• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Transfusion News
  • About Us
  • Topics
    • Adverse Events (non-infectious)
    • Blood Donation
    • Cell Therapy
    • Coagulation & Plasma Transfusion
    • Platelet Transfusion
    • Policy and Guidelines
    • Quality Control and Regulatory
    • RBC Transfusion
    • Serology/Genotyping
    • Special Transfusion Situations
    • Transfusion Transmitted Infections
  • Continuing Education
  • Archives
  • Podcasts
  • Question of the Day
  • Search
  • Subscribe to Email Alerts
  • Follow us on
  • Search
  • Subscribe to Email Alerts

Age of Red Blood Cells Does Not Affect Lactic Acidosis

December 11, 2015

Human red blood cell, illustration

Although a recent meta-analysis of randomized trials has reported no difference in adverse events based on the age of the red blood cells (RBCs) transfused, the effect that age of RBCs play in oxygen delivery has not been examined.

New research published in JAMA evaluated the RBC age at time of transfusion on blood lactate levels to assess for lactic acidosis and act as a surrogate maker for oxygen delivery in 290 Ugandan children with severe anemia, many of whom had malaria or sickle cell disease.  In a randomized trial, researchers transfused younger RBCs stored for a median of 8 days (interquartile range (IQR), 7-9 days) in half of the children (n=145) and compared lactate levels in children (n=145) transfused with RBCs stored for a longer duration (median, 32 days; IQR, 30-34 days).  No difference was found between blood lactate levels of the two groups, nor other clinical markers, adverse events or survival.  Since fresh RBCs have not been found to be superior, other factors affecting transfusions such as donor characteristics and the RBC collection and processing should be examined in future clinical trials.

 

 

References

  1. Dhabangi A, Ainomugisha B, Cserti-Gazdewich C, Ddungu H, Kyeyune D, Musisi E, Opoka R, Stowell CP, Dzik WH. Effect of Transfusion of Red Blood Cells With Longer vs Shorter Storage Duration on Elevated Blood Lactate Levels in Children With Severe Anemia: The TOTAL Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA 2015: 1-10.
  2. Spinella PC, Acker J. Storage Duration and Other Measures of Quality of Red Blood Cells for Transfusion. JAMA 2015: 1-3.
  3. Alexander PE, Barty R, Fei Y, Vandvik PO, Pai M, Siemieniuk RA, Heddle NM, Blumberg N, McLeod SL, Liu J, Eikelboom JW, Guyatt GH. Transfusion of fresher versus older red blood cells in hospitalized patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Blood 2015.

Filed Under

  • News
  • RBC Transfusion

Recommended

  • Genomic Profiles Associated with CAR T-Cell Therapy Efficacy

  • Red Blood Cells May Act as Immune Sentinels

  • Plasma Equivalent to Clotting Factor Concentrates for Initial Resuscitation of Patients with Severe Trauma

Show Comments

Comments on this article are closed.

Get the latest news. Subscribe to our mailing list. Sign Up

Primary Sidebar

Latest News

  • Global Platelet Transfusion Practices for Patients in the ICU

  • Plasma Equivalent to Clotting Factor Concentrates for Initial Resuscitation of Patients with Severe Trauma

  • Personalized Prediction Model of Prophylactic Platelet Transfusions for Preterm Infants

  • Caffeine in Donor Blood Reduces Quality of Stored RBCs

    Question of the Day

    Copyright © 2025 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    Privacy Policy

    Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies Wiley