INFLUENCE OF REJUVENATION ON THE RHEOLOGI CAL PROPERTIES OF STORED RED-CELLS

Buffycoat free red cell concentrates in a medium composed of sodium ch loride, adenine, glucose and mannitol (SAGM) stored for 42 days at +4- degrees-C were rejuvenated by a solution which contained pyruvate, ino sine, disodiumphosphate and adenine (PIPA). The rheological behaviour of red cells was measured before and after rejuvenation by viscosimetr y of red cell suspensions (hematocrit 45%) at various intervals during the storage period. The deformability of the red cells during storage was determined also before and after rejuvenation by measurement of t he viscosity of hard packed cells (hematocrit 98%). The results show i mprovement of the rheological properties by rejuvenation. Moreover it is shown that incubation of the red cells at 37-degrees-C for two hour s without rejuvenation solution decreases the viscosity.