Comparing Electrolytes in Prestorage Leukocyte-Reduced Packed Cell versus Unfiltered Packed Cell

Blood transfusion is associated with side effects caused by residual leukocytes in blood and blood components. Using leukodepleted blood components can decrease some of these adverse effects. Among the various methods to remove leukocytes in blood components, prestorage leukoreduction has been most efficient, but the evidence of clinical side effects awaits further studies. We evaluated changes of electrolytes in prestorage leukocyte-reduced red blood cells.

In this case-control study, one hundred twenty eight packed cells were studied: 64 unfiltered packed cells and 64 prestorage filtered packed cell. Two groups were matched as sex and age. Electrolytes such as Calcium, Sodium, and Potassium of two groups were measured, and compared during preparation.

In this study, mean of Calcium in unfiltered and filtered group were 6.16±1.09 mg/dl and 5.57±2.21 mg/dl, respectively (P-value<0.055). Mean of Sodium in unfiltered group also was 155.91+/-9.51meq/l and in filtered group, 153.05+/-13.21meq/l (P-value<0.163), and mean of Potassium in unfiltered group was 5.01+/-1.72 meq/l and in filtered group, 7.42+/-2.45meq/l (P-value<0.001).

Releasing of Potassium during preparation of prestorage leukoreduction can cause increased Potassium level and hemoglobin concentration changes in prestorage filtered packed cell.