[Total lipid levels in erythrocyte concentrates before and after freezing]

The authors investigated changes of total lipids, cholesterol, triacyglycerols in red cell concentrates collected into acid-citrate-dextrose solution before freezing with glycerin and after freezing with glycerin to -30 degrees C in a deep freezer and to -196 degrees C by immersion into liquid nitrogen. It was revealed that the triacylglycerol levels after deglycerolization increased approximately three times. In transfusions of major amounts of thus processed blood the possibly impaired tissue saturation with oxygen will have to be taken into account. It may be concluded that lipids released from red cells impaired as a result of freezing may contribute to the formation of undesirable aggregates in blood.