Porcine Packed Red Blood Cells Demonstrate a Distinct Red Blood Cell Storage Lesion

The red blood cell (RBC) storage lesion has been well described in mouse and human blood but not in swine. Understanding the porcine RBC storage lesion is necessary prior to evaluating transfusion of stored packed red blood cells (pRBCs) in polytrauma models. We hypothesized that porcine pRBCs would undergo a similar storage lesion severity after 42 d.

Whole blood was collected from female Yorkshire pigs and pRBCs were isolated in additive storage solution 3. Female human whole blood was obtained from our local blood bank and pRBCs prepared. Human and porcine pRBCs were stored for 42 d and sampled weekly and evaluated for markers of the RBC storage lesion including biochemical measurements, eryptotic RBCs, band-3 expression, erythrocyte-derived microvesicles, and free hemoglobin concentrations.

Porcine pRBCs demonstrated a hematocrit similar to human pRBCs. Both human and porcine pRBC units developed a progressive storage lesion. However, over 42 d of storage, porcine pRBCs maintained their pH and had decreased glucose utilization. Porcine pRBCs also demonstrated decreased levels of eryptosis compared to human samples and generated less erythrocyte-derived microvesicles with lower free hemoglobin concentrations.

Porcine pRBCs stored in additive storage solution 3 demonstrate a progressive RBC storage lesion over 42 d of storage but with less severity than human controls. Given the differences in porcine erythrocyte metabolism, further study of the storage lesion in porcine blood is needed in addition to incorporating the use of stored porcine pRBCs in a swine model of hemorrhagic shock to more closely mimic clinical scenarios.