Relationship Between Osmotic Fragility and in Vivo Survival of Autologous Deglycerolized Resuspended Red Blood Cells

Abstract

The relationship between the osmotic fragility as determined with a “fragiligraph,” and the 24 hour posttransfusion survival of autologous, deglycerolized chromium‐labeled erythrocytes was studied in 62 units of blood. Thirty‐two units of deglycerolized red cells were resuspended in autologous plasma, and thirty units were resuspended in a 5% albumin medium. Fourteen of the units resuspended in autologous plasma, and thirteen of those resuspended in the 5%‘ albumin medium were stored at 4C for varying periods (5–14 days), and then washed with isotonic saline to reduce the supernatant hemoglobin prior to transfusion. The in vivo survival of the erythrocytes could not be accurately predicted from the analysis of the osmotic fragility curve. However, approximately 65 per cent survival 24 hours after transfusion could be predicted if 6.25% and 12.5% hemolysis occurred at sodium chloride concentrations of 0.69% or less, and 0.52% or less respectively. These findings indicate that an osmotic fragility test may be helpful in the evaluation of the suitability for transfusion of deglycerolized, resuspended erythrocytes.

The Fragiligraph and its Application

“…The usefulness of the instrument has been demonstrated in clinical diagnosis (Danon, Shiffman and Efrati, 1965) and in blood transfusion centres (Danon, Frei, Rimon and Ben David, 1964;Valeri, Mercado-Lugo and Danon, 1965). By measurement of osmotic fragility it is possible to assess deterioration of blood during storage.…”