Influence of 30 Gy gamma irradiation on the quality of red blood cell concentrates in several storage media

Background: The transfusion-associated graft versus host disease (t-GvHD) o ccurring in immunosuppressed patients can be prevented by irradiation of re d blood cell concentrates (RCCs) with gamma irradiation at a dose of 30 Gy prior to transfusion. The aim of this study was to investigate, whether the irradiation of leukocyte-depleted RCCs in different storage media (SAG-M, PAGGS-M, or Adsol) may cause deterioration of red blood cells (RBC), result ing in a shortened shelf life of the RCC. Material and Methods: According t o manufacturing (manually, apheresis), storage medium used (SAG-M, PAGGS-M, Adsol) and processing of leukocyte depletion (filtered, nonfiltered), 192 RCCs were separated into 8 groups with 24 RCCs each. Each group was divided into two subgroups. One was irradiated (30 Gy), the other one was used as control. Until the end of shelf life, pH, the concentrations of Na+, K+, la ctate, glucose, 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), parameters of blood cell count, and external hemoglobin were measur ed every week. Results: The metabolic parameters did not show significant d ifferences between nonirradiated and irradiated RCCs. K+ efflux and hemolys is were significantly higher in the irradiated RCCs after the first week of storage. The values of hemolysis remained below the recommended limit of 0 .8% of the hemoglobin content of RCCs until the 28th day of storage. After 28 days of storage the mean values of K+ increased by 25% compared to the c ontrol samples at the end of shelf life. The mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was significantly higher in the irradiated RCCs with significant difference s between the various storage media. Leukocyte-depleted RCCs showed partly smaller rates of hemolysis than unfiltered RCCs. Conclusions: The determine d in vitro parameters of irradiated and leukocyte-depleted RCCs stored in S AG-WI, PAGGS-M or Adsol revealed no significant quantitative changes until 28th day of storage compared to those of nonirradiated RCCs.