3 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
The investigators hypothesize that the storage-damaged red cells are responsible for some of the adverse effects of transfusion. In this observational study, the investigators will measure various laboratory parameters both before and after transfusion in a pediatric intensive care unit to determine at what duration of storage is there laboratory evidence of refrigerator storage damage. The investigators hypothesize that increasing storage time of packed red blood cells (PRBCs) transfused will be associated with increasing non-transferrin-bound iron (NTBI), pro-inflammatory cytokine concentrations, and enhanced microbial growth in vitro in pediatric patients.
Packed red blood cell units destined for transfusion can be stored for up to 42 days prior to transfusion based on Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines. Recent studies suggest that certain patients transfused with blood stored for longer duration have poorer outcomes than patients transfused fresher blood. The investigators' hypothesis is that the delivery of an immediate and substantial load of hemoglobin-associated iron from a stored unit of blood leads to changes that explain the differences in outcome between patients transfused old versus fresh blood. The investigators propose to test this hypothesis in humans by transfusing an individual's own blood, both fresh and after storage, and comparing levels of various outcome measures.
This study will determine the minimal duration of red blood cell (RBC) storage that leads to increases in circulating non-transferrin-bound iron in healthy human volunteers post-transfusion. The results from this study will help guide national guidelines for appropriate duration of RBC storage prior to transfusion, which is currently 6 weeks by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) criteria. The overall objective of this research is to improve the safety of refrigerated storage of red blood cells before transfusion.