Evaluation of Proinflammatory Cytokines in Prestorage Leukodepleted Whole Blood Using a High-Performance Inline Filter

Abstract

Background: The efficiency of prestorage leukodepletion of whole blood on the production of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-β, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α) was compared in two groups of nonfiltered and filtered whole blood. Material and Methods:Ten experiments were performed. In each experiment we took two whole blood units drawn from a pool. In one group the units were immediately filtered by the new inline filter Biofil integral on NPBI Compoflex system while in the second group they were maintained without leukodepletion at +4 °C. Results:The filter showed a mean log₁₀ depletion of 3.86 ± 0.08 (CV 2.1%) with a mean absolute number of leukocytes in the postfiltration units of 0.29 ± 0.049 × 10⁶ and a RBC recovery of 92.5 ± 1.1%. IL-6 and TNF-α remained at concentrations less than 1 pg/ml in the samples during the storage period both in the control and filtered units. IL-β was not significantly higher on days 0 and 35 in the two groups while IL-8 was observed to be increased at day 35 in 2 out of the 10 experiments (620 and 415 pg/ml, respectively). Conclusions:The inline filter Biofil in combination with an NPBI Compoflex system has a high performance in the leukodepletion of whole blood. Proinflammatory cytokines have a concentration in whole blood less than described in platelet concentrates, and prestorage leukodepletion seems to prevent cytokine accumulation.