J.Jpn. Surg. Soc.. 56(8): 1070-1087, 1955

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CHANGES IN STORED BLOOD

It is obvious that the stored blood is very usefull in practice recently. One of the most important problems in preserving blood is the improvement in techenic of storage and to identify the storage period in which no marked changes are not found in blood, and, thereby it is necessary to study changes of the stored blood from day to day.
A.C.D. solution was added to the blood for preservation and daily examination on changes in the red blood cells and plasma were made. When 0.1 moI of hypotonic saline solution was added to the blood the degree of hemolysis of the erythrocytes showed only a slight increase up to the 7th day but after that a rapid increase was seen. In the early stage of preservation, the erythrocytes seemed to be flat and disc in shape and Roulaux formation was seen, but in later the latter disappeared gradually and the individual cells became spheric.
The plasma increased in viscosity and therefore in 1-2 weeks there was found a definite retardation in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Because of this the hematocrit increased after 7 days strorage, but there were no changes in the cell count. The potassium concentration in the plasma increased rapidly in 7-10 days but thereafter only slightly, and had no relation to the deveIopment of hemolysis.
In order to follow the changes of the transfused blood ceIIs, survival study was made by Ashby's method. Destruction of the erythrocytes showed rapid increase in colleration to the Iength of preservation , i.e., in the transfusion with the fresh blood the red blood cells were destroyed in 120 days, whereas with the blood preserved for 2 weeks the red cells were destroyed in 60-80 days, and with the blood preserved for 3 weeks in 30-50 days.
When mechanical effect such as shaking and stirring was added, the destruction of the erythrocytes was even more pronounced. From this the more changes occur in the blood during preservation the less effect of the transfusion might be anticipated.
To obtain the good results of transfusion with stored blood, one should use it within 7 days. In order to minimamize the changes in the blood it is necessary to depress the metabolism of the erythrocytes during preservation.
(author's abstract)

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