Thermal damage to red cells

Abstract

Heating whole blood in vitro to 50°C induces progressive morphological changes. Fractionation of whole blood and subsequent heating to 480C show the older cells to be less deformable.Morphological changes induced by heating were first observed over a century ago (Schultze, 1865) when microspherocytosis and fragmentation were noted. Similar gross changes were also noted after burning-injuries and reported by Shen,