[The creatine levels--a criterion for preservation damage in erythrocytes?]

The creatine content of human erythrocytes decreases during in vivo ageing. On the other hand, banking of erythrocytes in ACD-AG- or CPD-medium, respectively, causes an initial distinct increase with following slow decrease of the creatine level. When compared with the initial value the creatine content is still elevated after 6 weeks of banking. Hitherto, the reason of this behaviour is unknown. The creatine content does not represent a suitable criterion for banking related damage of erythrocytes.