Effect of leukoreduction on the metabolism of equine packed red blood cells during refrigerated storage

Abstract

Background: Understanding of the biochemical and morphological lesions associated with storage of equine blood is limited.

Objective: To demonstrate the temporal sequences of lipid and metabolic profiles of equine fresh and stored (up to 42 days) and leukoreduced packed red blood cells (LR-pRBC) and non-leukoreduced packed RBC (nLR-pRBC).

Animals: Packed RBC units were obtained from 6 healthy blood donor horses enrolled in 2 blood banks.

Methods: Observational study. Whole blood was collected from each donor using transfusion bags with a LR filter. Leukoreduction pRBC and nLR-pRBC units were obtained and stored at 4°C for up 42 days. Sterile weekly sampling was performed from each unit for analyses.

Results: Red blood cells and supernatants progressively accumulated lactate products while high-energy phosphate compounds (adenosine triphosphate and 2,3-Diphosphoglycerate) declined. Hypoxanthine, xanthine, and free fatty acids accumulated in stored RBC and supernatants. These lesions were exacerbated in non-LR-pRBC.

Conclusion and clinical importance: Leukoreduction has a beneficial effect on RBC energy and redox metabolism of equine pRBC and the onset and severity of the metabolic storage lesions RBC.

Keywords: blood transfusion; horse; leukoreduction; lipidomics; metabolomics; storage lesion.