PRELIMINARY STUDY OF THE GAMMA-RADIATION EFFECT ON THE PLASMA IONS CONCENTRATION IN TRANSFUSION UNITS

Abstract

Red blood cell concentrates are the most widely used component in blood transfusions. Gamma irradiation of the
transfusion unit is indicated when a patient is at risk of developing transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease.
However, this irradiation exacerbates storage damage by increasing potassium and decreasing sodium plasmatic levels.
These effects on red blood cells reduce the viability time of stored irradiated units. In this work, we study the different
radiation dose effects on the concentration of plasmatic ions in the gamma-irradiated bags, which are attributed to
possible membrane alterations of red blood cells and leukocytes. The result analysis shows that radiation, at the doses
studied, does not affect glucose consumption. However, the permeability of the erythrocyte membrane increases with
the radiation dose, indicating that these types of alterations could be dose-dependent. These results could help to design
a new preservation medium to reduce radiation-induced membrane damage.