Table 1

Red blood cell storage lesion

Storage effects
Consequences

Decreased 2, 3-diphosphoglycerate
Increased oxygen affinity and decreased oxygen unloading by hemoglobin

ATP depletion
Erythrocyte shape changes

Increased osmotic fragility

Decreased deformability

Microvesiculation and loss of lipid membrane
Decreased erythrocyte viability

Lipid peroxidation
Cellular injury and death

Bioactive substance generation: histamine, cytokines, lipids
Febrile transfusion reactions

Neutrophil priming/endothelial activation

Cellular injury

Transfusion-related acute lung injury

Multiple organ failure (?)


Offner Critical Care 2004 8(Suppl 2):S24   doi:10.1186/cc2405