Does prolonged storage of red blood cells cause harm

摘要: Summary Red blood cells (RBCs) degrade progressively during the weeks of refrigerated storage. No universally accepted definition ‘fresh’ or ‘old’ RBCs exists. While practices vary from country to country, preservative solutions permitting shelf life as long 7 weeks have been licenced. Transfusion stored RBCs, particularly those at end approved life, has implicated in adverse clinical outcomes. The results observational analyses, animal models and studies volunteers proved provocative, controversial contradictory. A recently completed randomized controlled trial (RCT) premature infants exemplifies difficulties with moderately sized studies. Several other RCTs are progress. effect RBC storage may well according setting. Resolution importance lesion require large pragmatic trials. In meantime, institutions involved collection transfusion should explore strategies that assure availability, while limiting use oldest currently by regulation.