Storage of Blood with or without Irradiation: Effect on Lipid Profile

Aims: To observe the effect of storage on lipid profile in pre-irradiated blood and non-irradiated blood before transfusion.

Study Design: Prospective study.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry and Department of Transfusion Medicine, Pt. BD Sharma PGIMS, Rohtak, Haryana, India from April 2015 to July 2015.

Methodology: Blood for transfusion (450 ml) was drawn from 60 healthy volunteer donors into CPDA-1 anticoagulant (63 ml) and stored at 2-4°C with 30 randomly selected blood bags subjected to 25 Grey gamma radiation before storage. Blood sample from each bag was analyzed at 0, 3, 7, 14 and 21 days interval for lipid profile and was compared statistically between two groups.

Results: A statistically significant decrease in levels of triglycerides (TG) and very low density cholesterol (VLDL-C) while an increase in low density cholesterol (LDL-C) was observed in pre-irradiated samples as compared to non-irradiated ones in 14th day and 21st day samples. The difference in other parameters and at lesser storage durations was not found to be statistically significant.

Conclusion: The blood to be transfused should be fresh, non-irradiated or stored upto a duration of two weeks after radiation especially if recipients are at increased cardiac risk. The findings need to be supported with further studies with larger sample groups.