title: Transfusion of irradiated red blood cell units with a potassium adsorption filter: A randomized controlled trial.
abstract: The irradiation of red blood cells (RBCs) causes damage of the RBC membrane with increased potassium (K) leak during storage compared with nonirradiated RBC units of similar age. A previous in vitro study showed a mean reduction of K of 94 ± 5% with a potassium adsorption filter (PAF).
  
  
  
  A prospective, single-center, nonblinded, randomized controlled trial (RCT) was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of transfusing irradiated RBC units with the PAF. Patients 18 years of age or older who received irradiated RBC units due to chemotherapy-induced anemia were randomly assigned to receive irradiated RBC units with the PAF (PAF group) or with the standard blood infusion set (control group). Primary outcome measures were safety and efficacy of the PAF (absolute change in hemoglobin [Hb] and K, respectively, in patient's blood values after transfusing the irradiated RBC units with or without the PAF).
  
  
  
  A total of 63 irradiated RBC units were transfused to 17 patients in the control group, and a total of 56 irradiated RBC units were transfused to 13 patients in the PAF group. The absolute change of Hb (9.3 ± 6.3 g/L vs. 8.1 ± 5.8 g/L; p = 0.3) and the absolute change of K (-0.01 ± 0.4 mmol/L vs. -0.01 ± 0.3 mmol/L; p = 0.2) were comparable between the two groups of the trial.
  
  
  
  The transfusion of 1 irradiated RBC unit with the PAF was as safe and efficacious as the transfusion of 1 irradiated RBC unit with the standard blood infusion set in patients with chemotherapy-induced anemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hemotherapy and Hemostasis, CDB, IDIBAPS, Hospital Clínic, University de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cid
authors.affiliation: Department of Hemotherapy and Hemostasis, CDB, IDIBAPS, Hospital Clínic, University de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Villegas
authors.affiliation: Department of Hemotherapy and Hemostasis, CDB, IDIBAPS, Hospital Clínic, University de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carbassé
authors.affiliation: Department of Hemotherapy and Hemostasis, CDB, IDIBAPS, Hospital Clínic, University de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alba
authors.affiliation: Department of Hemotherapy and Hemostasis, CDB, IDIBAPS, Hospital Clínic, University de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Perea
authors.affiliation: Department of Hemotherapy and Hemostasis, CDB, IDIBAPS, Hospital Clínic, University de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lozano
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000628:therapy; D001793:Blood Preservation / Q000379:methods; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion / Q000379:methods*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D005260:Female; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D011188:Potassium