Transfusion of blood stored for longer periods of time does not alter the reactive hyperemia index in healthy volunteers

A Coppadoro,Cp Stowell,Au Steinbicker,C Lei,T Lin,L Berra,Hs Warren,Kd Bloch,Wm Zapol,Wh Dzik,M Feelisch,B Yu,Bo Fernandez,E Spagnolli,Fy Sammy

doi:10.1186/cc11055

Abstract

Introduction The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of transfusing human packed red blood cells (PRBC) after prolonged storage, as compared to short storage. Retrospective data suggest that transfusion of PRBC stored for over 2 weeks is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. During storage, PRBC progressively release hemoglobin, which avidly binds nitric oxide (NO). We hypothesized that the NO-mediated hyperemic response following ischemia would be reduced after transfusion of PRBC stored for 40 days. Methods We conducted a cross-over randomized interventional study, enrolling 10 healthy adults. Nine volunteers completed the study; one volunteer could not complete the protocol because of anemia. Each volunteer received 1 unit of 40-day and 1 unit of 3-day stored autologous leukoreduced PRBC, on different study days according to a randomization scheme. Blood withdrawal and reactive hyperemia index (RHI) measurements were performed before and 10 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, and 4 hours after transfusion. Results The change of RHI after transfusion of 40-day stored PRBC did not differ as compared to 3-day stored PRBC (P = 0.67). Plasma hemoglobin and bilirubin levels were higher after transfusion of 40-day than after 3-day stored PRBC (P = 0.02 and 0.001, respectively). Plasma levels of potassium, LDH, haptoglobin, cytokines, as well as blood pressure, did not differ between the two transfusions and remained within the normal range. Plasma nitrite concentrations increased after transfusion of 40-day stored PRBC, but not after transfusion of 3-day stored PRBC (P = 0.01). Conclusion Transfusion of 1 unit of autologous PRBC stored for longer periods of time is associated with increased hemolysis, an unchanged RHI and increased levels of plasma nitrite in healthy volunteers.

Highlights

Sepsis is primarily a disease of the aged and 60% of sepsis occurs in patients older than 65 years, 80% of deaths due to sepsis occur in this age group
The purpose of the study is to elucidate the immunological changes that occur in Klotho mice after sepsis in order to identify therapeutic targets for sepsis that occurs in aged individuals
Poor survival in Klotho-septic mice may be associated with impaired bacterial clearance with decreased recruitment of neutrophils/macrophages in peritoneal cavity, elevated cytokines in serum, and increased apoptosis in thymus and spleen, following to impaired innate and adaptive immunity

Summary

Introduction

Sepsis is primarily a disease of the aged and 60% of sepsis occurs in patients older than 65 years, 80% of deaths due to sepsis occur in this age group. The aim of this study was to determine the reasons behind out-of-hours discharges in our hospital and the effect this has on mortality This audit reviewed the discharge process of patients from an adult general ICU to the general wards before and after the introduction of a liaison nurse post over a 3-year, 3-month time period. The aim of this study was to establish and compare the quality and value of the summaries as judged by ICU doctors and GPs. The relationship between provider volume and patient outcome has been demonstrated for many medical and surgical services, including critical care. Methods In this single-centre observational study we aimed to quantify functional dependency at three different time points: discharge from ICU (DI), discharge from hospital (DH) and discharge from nursing home rehabilitation unit (DR) To this end we retrospectively assed Barthel scores (BS) for individual patients [1], with a duration of mechanical ventilation >48 hours.

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