Red blood units collected from bone marrow harvests after mononuclear cell selection qualify for autologous use.
BACKGROUND
After large volume bone marrow (BM) harvest, donors and patients can develop severe anaemia, because collected BM can contain up to 20% of their red cell mass. In a prospective analysis, we investigated the feasibility to recover red blood cells (RBCs) from the harvested BM and investigated whether these RBC units meet the quality requirements of the European Council.


METHODS
From 19 patients (median age 51 yrs, range 31-77) with acute myocardial infarction, who participated in the MYSTAR study, a median volume of 1299 ml (range, 700-1870 ml) BM was collected. During BM processing, mononuclear cells (MNC) were separated using the Cobe Spectra apheresis system and the residual RBCs were collected in a separate bag. The quality of the collected RBCs was assessed by measuring LDH, free haemoglobin, potassium and lactate. Haemolysis was calculated and the intracellular concentration of ATP, ADP, AMP was determined by HPLC.


RESULTS
RBC units recovered from BM after MNC separation had a mean volume of 312 +/- 95 ml with a haematocrit of 47 +/- 8.9%, a haemoglobin content of 51 +/- 15 g per unit, a haemolysis of 0.15 +/- 0.005%, a pH of 6.8 +/- 0.007 and an intracellular ATP concentration of 135 pmol/10(6) RBC +/- 41, which is comparable with freshly collected packed red blood cells (PRBCs).


CONCLUSIONS
RBCs, collected from bone marrow harvests, can be used for autologous blood support to minimize allogeneic blood transfusions in donors and patients after large volume BM donation.
Leitner
G C
GC
Department of Blood Group Serology and Transfusion Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, Vienna, Austria. gerda.leitner@meduniwien.ac.at
Dettke
M
M
List
J
J
Worel
N
N
Weigel
G
G
Fischer
M B
MB
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000032:analysis; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D001804:Blood Transfusion, Autologous / Q000592:standards; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D002469:Cell Separation; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000032:analysis; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D007937:Leukapheresis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood / Q000601:surgery; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
D006454:Hemoglobins; D019344:Lactic Acid; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D011188:Potassium