EFFECTS OF PRESTORAGE LEUKOCYTE REDUCTION IN ENDOTOXIN-CONTAMINATED AUTOLOGOUS BLOOD

Abstract

To clarify the effectiveness of prestorage leukocyte reduction for whole blood contaminated with endotoxin, we analyzed biochemical mediators, levels of cytokines, and aggregates in blood samples on storage for five weeks.From 12 healthy donors, 400mL of blood were collected into CPDA-1 bags as autologous blood samples. A standard E. coli-derived endotoxin (500pg/mL) was pulsed into all of the bags. Half of each blood sample was filtered to eliminate leukocytes. We assayed pH, Na, K, ATP, free Hb, 2, 3-DPG, LDH, bradykinin, C3a, aggregates, RANTES, granulocyte elastase, IFN-γ, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 at 3 hours and on days 7, 14, 21, and 35.There was no adverse effect of leukocyte reduction on erythrocytes. Levels of IL-1β and IL-6 in the leukocyte-reduced blood were significantly lower than those in blood without reduction. It was confirmed that the number of aggregates was decreased by filtration for leukocyte reduction.These results suggest that prestorage leukocyte reduction to reduce the risk of endotoxin-related adverse reactions is feasible for storage of autologous blood bags for five weeks, especially for patients with jaundice.