Storage-induced increase in biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation in red blood cell components

Transfusion of blood components may increase the risk of complications in relation to surgery. During storage, red blood cells (RBCs) undergo structural and functional changes that may reduce function and viability after transfusion. The aim of the study was to evaluate the quality of buffy-coat reduced red cells in SAG-M additive solution, by assessing biomarkers of oxidative and inflammatory stress during a storage period of 35 days.

Ten units of RBCs were stored for 35 days. Samples were collected from the units at storage days 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35, respectively. The samples were analysed for various biomarkers expressing the oxidative stress and inflammation, including malondialdehyde (MDA), α-tocopherol (AT), dehydroascorbic acid (DHA), ascorbate (ASC), YKL-40 and interleukin-6 (IL-6).

The levels ofMDA, ASC, DHA, IL-6 and YKL-40 changed significantly during the storage period (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.004 and p < 0.001 respectively). A significant change in AT levels could not be shown (p = 0.087).

RBCs displayed significant changes in all measured indices of oxidative and inflammatory stress during a storage period of 35 days except for AT. The data suggest a possible rationale behind the observation that aging blood products may increase the risk of complications following surgery and blood transfusion.