POSTTRANSFUSIONAL CHANGES OF 2,3-DIPHOSPHOGLYCERATE AND NUCLEOTIDES IN CPD-SAGM-PRESERVED ERYTHROCYTES

Background: Posttransfusional changes of preserved red blood cells can influence the oxygen equilibrium curve which is mainly affected by th e concentration of erythrocyte 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG). Material and Methods: The regeneration kinetics of DPG and nucleotides (ATP, AD P, AMP, GTP, GDP) was determined over a period of 0-48 h in surgically treated patients following transfusion of DPG-depleted packed red cel ls stored for 14 days in CPD-SAGM. Results: 3 h after transfusion the DPG levels raised up to 40% of the patients' prior DPG concentrations. Complete regeneration of the DPG concentrations occurred 36-48 h afte r transfusion. Changes in the nucleotide pattern indicate, after a tem porary decrease of ATP and GTP levels (after 10-30 min) and an activat ion phase (after 3-12 h), the full regeneration of these parameters 24 -48 h- after transfusion. Conclusions: The regeneration kinetics of DP G should be taken into consideration for transfusions with blood units stored for more than 14 days, especially in patients with reduced com pensatory mechanisms (coronary and cerebral scleroses, pacemaker, etc. ) and large transfusion volumes.