Stored red blood cell transfusions: iron, inflammation, immunity, and infection

Transfusion. 2014 Oct;54(10):2365-71. doi: 10.1111/trf.12848. Epub 2014 Sep 4.

Abstract

Emily Cooley was a highly regarded medical technologist and morphologist. The "Emily Cooley Lectureship and Award" was established to honor her, in particular, and medical technologists, in general. This article reviews some basic concepts about the "life of a red blood cell" (RBC) and uses these to discuss the actual and potential consequences that occur in patients after clearance of transfused refrigerator storage-damaged RBCs by extravascular hemolysis.

Publication types

  • Lecture
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Preservation* / adverse effects
  • Blood Preservation* / methods
  • Erythrocyte Transfusion*
  • Erythrocytes / physiology
  • Hemolysis / physiology
  • Humans
  • Immunity / physiology*
  • Infections / blood*
  • Infections / transmission
  • Inflammation / blood*
  • Iron / blood*

Substances

  • Iron