Survival and function of baboon RBCs released from clotted blood and washed before autologous transfusion

BACKGROUND: One alternative to an allogeneic transfusion is the salvaging o f the patient's own shed blood. In this study, baboon blood was allowed to clot and the RBCs that were released from the clotted blood lysed with and without urokinase were washed before autologous transfusion. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Forty-four studies were done in 13 baboons (Papio cynocephalus or Papio, anubis) over a 3-year period. In 24 studies, a 50-m L volume of blood was collected without an anticoagulant and stored at 22 d egreesC for as long as 72 hours before washing and autologous transfusion. In 20 other studies, a 50-mL volume of bl cod was collected without an anti coagulant and allowed to clot for 30 to 60 minutes. Urokinase, ranging from 2,500 to 10,000 units per mL, was added, and the blood was stored at 22 de greesC for 24 hours before washing and autologous transfusion. RESULTS: RBCs that were stored at 22 degreesC without urokinase for 24 hour s exhibited an in vitro recovery value of 45 percent, a Cr-51 24-hour postt ransfusion survival of 86 percent, and an index of therapeutic effectivenes s of 39 percent. The (CrT50)-Cr-51 value was normal at 14 days, and RBC oxy gen-transport function was slightly reduced. RBCs that were stored at 22 de greesC for 24 hours with 10,000 units per mL of urokinase exhibited an in v itro recovery value of 89 percent, a Cr-51 24-hour posttransfusion survival value of 86 percent, and an index of therapeutic effectiveness of 76 perce nt. The (CrT50)-Cr-51 value was normal at 14 days, and the RBC oxygen-trans port function was only slightly reduced. CONCLUSION: Autologous baboon RBCs isolated from clotted blood treated or n ot treated with urokinase and washed before transfusion have excellent surv ival and normal or only slightly reduced oxygen-transport function.