title: Biochemical storage lesions occurring in nonirradiated and irradiated red blood cells: a brief review.
abstract: Red blood cells undergo a series of biochemical fluctuations during 35-42-day storage period at 1°C to 6°C. The sodium/potassium pump is immobilised causing a decrease in intracellular potassium with an increase in cytoplasmic sodium levels, glucose levels decline, and acidosis occurs as a result of low pH levels. The frailty of stored erythrocytes triggers the formation of haemoglobin-containing microparticles and the release of cell-free haemoglobin which may add to transfusion difficulties. Lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress to band 3 structures, and other morphological and structural molecular changes also occur leading to spheroechinocytes and osmotic fragility. These changes that transpire in the red cells during the storage period are referred to as "storage lesions." It is well documented that gamma irradiation exacerbates storage lesions and the reports of increased potassium levels leading to adverse reactions observed in neonates and infants have been of particular concern. There are, however, remarkably few systematic studies comparing the in vitro storage lesions of irradiated and nonirradiated red cell concentrates and it has been suggested that the impact of storage lesions on leucocyte reduced red blood cell concentrate (RBCC) is incomplete. The review examines storage lesions in red blood cells and their adverse effects in reference to blood transfusion.
authors.affiliation: Training Department, Western Province Blood Transfusion Service, Cape Town 7450, South Africa.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.affiliation: Western Province Blood Transfusion Service, Cape Town 7450, South Africa.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bellairs
authors.affiliation: Western Province Blood Transfusion Service, Cape Town 7450, South Africa.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Bird
authors.affiliation: Oxidative Stress Research Centre, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville, Cape Town 7535, South Africa.
authors.forename: O O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Oguntibeju
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001793:Blood Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D013048:Specimen Handling