The effect of N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) on RBC oxidative damage and RBC metabolism during storage of red blood cell product in blood bank condition

Oxidative damage is one of the main causes of Red blood cell (RBC) storage lesion which can reduce RBC survival during RBC storage in blood bank condition. In this study, we evaluate the effect of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) as an anti-oxidant compound on RBC oxidative damage and RBC metabolism during storage of this product.

In this experimental study, 10 bag of packed RBC were provided to the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization's Innovation Center were randomly selected and effect of NAC was investigated on metabolism, oxidative status and hematologic variables of RBC during RBC storage. The results of this study were compared between two groups of NAC treated RBC and untreated RBC (without NAC). All of the data were analyzed with SPSS statistical program (version 22).

In this study, the concentration of lactate and LDH enzyme activity in the NAC treated RBC were lower than the control group (without NAC). The concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) as a lipid peroxidation marker in the NAC treated RBC was lower increase than the untreated RBC. Also antioxidant capacity was so higher in the NAC - RBC than in the control group, especially in the 28th day of RBC storage (Pday28 <0.05).

The results of this study indicated that the use of NAC as an additive solution could decrease oxidative damage via maintaining of the RBC oxidant capacity during RBC storage. In the future NAC may be used as an additive for maintaining of the RBC survival and RBC quality during storage of RBC in blood bank condition.