title: Ascorbic acid improves membrane fragility and decreases haemolysis during red blood cell storage.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Changes that occur to red blood cells (RBCs) during routine blood bank storage include decreased deformability, increased haemolysis and oxidative damage. Oxidative injury to the RBC membrane and haemoglobin can affect changes in shape and deformability. Ascorbic acid (AA) is an antioxidant that maintains haemoglobin in a reduced state and minimises RBC oxidative injury. We hypothesised that AA would improve membrane fragility and decrease haemolysis during storage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Whole blood derived, AS-5 preserved, pre-storage leucoreduced RBC units were exposed to either AA or saline control solutions. Several rheological and biochemical parameters were measured serially during storage, including RBC membrane mechanical fragility, percent haemolysis and methaemoglobin levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AA exposure significantly reduced mechanical fragility and haemolysis over the entire storage period. The highest two concentrations of AA affected the greatest reductions in mechanical fragility and percent haemolysis. Addition of AA to the RBCs did not significantly alter their biochemical parameters compared to control RBCs incubated with saline.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AA reduced RBC membrane fragility and decreased haemolysis during storage without adversely affecting other RBC biochemical parameters. The clinical significance of these findings needs to be determined.
authors: Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors: J S
authors: JS
authors: Raval
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Fontes
authors: U
authors: U
authors: Banerjee
authors: M H
authors: MH
authors: Yazer
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Mank
authors: A F
authors: AF
authors: Palmer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001793:Blood Preservation; D004907:Erythrocyte Deformability / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000941:ethics*; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D006454:Hemoglobins; D001205:Ascorbic Acid