PLATELET STORAGE AT 22°C: A BIOCHEMICAL EVALUATION

Abstract

Blood platelets are an important component of transfusion therapy, especially for the thrombocytopenic patient. As a result, platelet storage has become an important issue. This study evaluated biochemical parameters of platelet concentrates (PC) that were prepared from whole blood drawn in CPDA-1. Seventeen PC's were stored for 7 days at 22°C in polyolefin containers (PL 732) with horizontal flatbed agitation. Samples were taken on days 1,3,5, and 7 of storage and analyzed. This study demonstrated a change from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism during the 7 days of platelet storage. PC's which utilized oxygen during storage were associated with a higher pCO2 and bicarbonate values, lower lactic acid levels and better maintenance of pH indicating active aerobic metabolism. During the 7 days of PC storage, a block in oxidative phosphosylation occurred which was reflected in increases in the pO2as well as increases in the lactic acid production, resulting in a depletion of available bicarbonate and a fall in pH. This study indicates that the fall in pH was not associated with increased pCO2values . A 29% decrease in ATP levels associated with an increase in the level of organic phosphate and plasma calcium was observed during storage. The study confirmed that changes in morphology are associated with a decrease in pH and increases in LDH levels during room temperature storage. This study demonstrated that several interrelated variables affect the pH of PC storage, and that oxidative phosphorylation is crucial to platelet metabolism and important in preventing adverse changes in pH.