An approach to prevent the severe adverse events associated with transfusion of FDA-approved blood products

Abstract

There have been several retrospective studies reporting severe adverse events of mortality and morbidity associated with blood transfusions. Mortality and morbidity associated with posttransfusion infection, transfusion related acute lung injury (TRALI), and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) have been reported in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, after massive transfusions for severe traumatic injuries, and after transfusions for elective and emergency indications. After 35 days of storage at 4 degrees C in additive solutions, RBC have 24-h posttransfusion survival values of 75% but do not function satisfactorily. For RBC to function satisfactorily shortly after transfusion, they should be stored at 4 degrees C for no more than 2 weeks. Yet while the FDA requires a 24-h posttransfusion survival value of 75%, there is no requirement for the function of the transfused RBC. It has been shown that red blood cells that circulate and function immediately or shortly after transfusion exert a very important hemostatic effect to reduce the bleeding time and nonsurgical blood loss in anemic and thrombocytopenic patients. Greater restoration of hemostasis is seen with viable and functional RBC transfusions than with platelets or plasma even though the platelets and plasma proteins may have satisfactory viability and function. The length of storage of the blood products affects their survival and function and the transfusion of nonviable compatible RBC, antibodies to granulocytes and WBC HLA antigens and biologically active substances affects the patient's clinical outcome. One of the easiest ways to prevent the severe adverse events that have been observed is to ensure that the transfused blood products survive and function at an optimum level and that the levels of antibodies to granulocytes and WBC HLA antigens and biologically active substances are eliminated or reduced. The best way to ensure this is to store liquid-preserved leukoreduced human red blood cells at 4 degrees C in additive solutions for no more than 2 weeks and leukoreduced platelets at room temperature for no more than 2 days. These liquid-preserved blood products can be used in conjunction with frozen RBC, platelets, and plasma stored in -80 degrees C mechanical freezers and will avoid the need for fresh whole blood and prevent the severe adverse events associated with the transfusion of blood products.