title: Potassium changes associated with blood transfusion in pediatric patients.
abstract: Storing packed red blood cells (pRBCs) increases the potassium concentration. This effect is characterized in citrate phosphate dextrose/citrate phosphate dextrose adenine units but not published for Adsol (AS-5) units. The change in whole-blood potassium concentration in pediatric patients during routine transfusion is also poorly characterized. In this study, pediatric patients undergoing transfusion had pre- and posttransfusion whole-blood potassium measurements. The pRBC unit transfused and the unit's segment were sampled, with potassium concentration measured. In addition, potassium concentration in AS-5 units was measured over 42 days of storage. Unit extracellular potassium increased in AS-5 units after day 7 at 0.83 mmol/L/d. The mean change in patient potassium concentration was 0.08 mmol/L (range, -0.5 to 0.5 mmol/L). No correlation with unit age or unit potassium concentration was identified with change in patient whole-blood potassium concentration. The lack of clinical effect on patient potassium does not support the use of "fresh" pRBC units with routine pediatric transfusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Ave HG-160, Hershey, PA 17033, USA. jolson1@hmc.psu.edu
authors.forename: Jordan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: Mala
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Talekar
authors.forename: Mansi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sachdev
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Castellani
authors.forename: Nestor
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: De la Cruz
authors.forename: Jerry
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: George
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001793:Blood Preservation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006947:Hyperkalemia / Q000209:etiology; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood*; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
chemical_list: D011188:Potassium
keywords: AS-5; Pediatric transfusion; Potassium; Segment potassium concentration; Storage