title: Blood banking-induced alteration of red blood cell flow properties.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Blood banking procedures are associated with damage to red blood cell (RBC) membranes, which can impair their flow properties, namely, their deformability, aggregability, and adherence to endothelial cells (ECs) and thus possibly introducing a circulatory risk to recipients. This study was undertaken to comprehensively explore the effect of cold storage and gamma irradiation on RBC flow properties.
  
  
  METHODS
  RBC flow properties were monitored as a function of shear stress with a computerized cell flow properties analyzer. Because we had previously studied storage effect on RBC aggregability (Transfusion 1999;39:277-81), here we determined the storage effect on RBC adherence and deformability, by measuring them before (control) and during storage. Gamma irradiation effect on RBC aggregability, adherence, and deformability was determined before (control) and after irradiation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cold storage significantly elevated the number of adherent RBCs and the strength of their interaction with ECs, and was marked by decreased RBC deformability as early as 2 weeks into the storage period. The elevation of RBC-EC interaction was well correlated with translocation of phosphatidylserine to the RBC surface. Gamma irradiation induced an immediate and marked increase in the number of rigid cells, but did not affect RBC adherence and aggregability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RBC flow properties appear to be especially sensitive to cold storage and gamma irradiation because they are impaired long before the expiration date. Because impaired RBC flow properties facilitate circulatory disorders, the potential circulatory risk of transfusion RBC with blood banking-impaired rheology should be considered.
authors: Blood Bank, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors: Hanna
authors: H
authors: Relevy
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Koshkaryev
authors: Noga
authors: N
authors: Manny
authors: Saul
authors: S
authors: Yedgar
authors: Gregory
authors: G
authors: Barshtein
mesh_terms: D001771:Blood Banks / Q000592:standards*; D001775:Blood Circulation; D001793:Blood Preservation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004903:Erythrocyte Aggregation; D004907:Erythrocyte Deformability; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D005720:Gamma Rays; D018056:Hemorheology; D006801:Humans; D013314:Stress, Mechanical