Evaluation of Lipid Peroxidation, Antioxidant Status and Trace Elements in Red Blood Cell Concentrates during Storage

Red blood cell concentrates (RBCs) undergo biochemical and structural changes during storage, commonly referred to as the RBC storage lesion (RSL) which reduces the survival of RBCs and affect transfusion efficiency. Lipid peroxidation and oxidative damage are the most important side effect of RSL. We aimed to evaluate oxidative damage and some related parameters in RBCs during storage. 

In this experimental study, eight RBCs bags were randomly selected from healthy blood donors and stored at 2-6 °C for 35 days. Oxidative stress markers, trace elements and RBCs metabolism parameters including total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, iron, magnesium, sodium, potassium, lactate, glucose, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) enzyme activity, pH and also RBCs hematological indexes including hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, MCH, MCHC and free plasma hemoglobin were evaluated during of RBCs storage. 

The results showed a significant increase in hemoglobin, hematocrit, calcium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, lactate, potassium, free plasma hemoglobin, TAC and LDH activity during RBCs storage according to one way analysis of variance (P<0.05), while a significant decrease was shown in pH, sodium and glucose concentration (P<0.05). No significant mean changes were seen in MDA, zinc, copper, manganese and selenium concentration during RBC storage.

It seems that RBCs at the end of the storage period have a lower quality than newly prepared ones. Therefore, we commend that RBC products rather be used before third week of storage due to post transfusion side effects in blood recipients.