[Blood products stored in plastic bags: release of plasticizers from the bag material]

The plasticizer di-(2-ethyl-hexyl)phthalate (DEHP) is slowly leached from the wall of the PVC blood bags into the blood products. It will be partly incorporated into the membranes of the blood cells, and finally will be transfused together with the blood products into the recipient, where DEHP might exert toxic effects. DEHP content was determined by HPLC in different blood products stored in plastic bags manufactured by different firms (Medicor--Hungary, MacoPharma--France, Terumo--Japan, Baxter--USA). In whole blood DEHP is present mainly in the plasma and blood bags of different firms show similar results. 1 unit of whole blood contains 20-50 mg DEHP on day 14 of storage, and 30-55 mg on day 28, while red blood cells resuspended in plasma contained only 2-15 mg on day 14. 15-20 mg DEHP was found in 1 unit of plasma stored for 4 days at +4 degrees C. Only 1-4 mg DEHP was detected in 1 unit of erythrocytes (cca. 200 ml) even on day 14 of storage. The supernatant of platelet concentrates contained the relatively highest amount of DEHP (even 50-65 mg was found in 1 unit of platelet concentrates on day 5 of storage). When platelet concentrates were studied, essential differences were recorded between the bags manufactured by different firms. Platelet reactivity is better maintained in storage bags manufactured without DEHP.