Effect of Glutathione Additive on Biochemical Parameters of Leukoreduced Red Blood Cell during Storage Period

Red blood cell (RBC) storage lesions may dramatically reduce the function of these cells. One of these complications is the gradual increase in oxidative stress, which causes the destruction of RBCs during their storage. This study was designed to investigate the effect of glutathione additive as an antioxidant on the biochemical changes of leukoreduced-RBC (LR-RBC) bags during storage.

The study was experimental. In 2016, it was done in Tehran Blood Transfusion Organization. Ten bags of LR-RBC were collected, processed and stored according to standard procedures. Each unit was divided into two equal parts treated with glutathione or normal saline (control). Sampling of all bags was done during the time points of 3, 14, 21, 35 and 42 days after storage. Used the ELISA method to investigate changes in glutathione and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) and the enzymatic method to measure biochemical parameters such as lactate-dehydrogenase (LDH), lactate concentration and glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase (G6PD) enzyme activity.

The amount of glutathione in the treated group and the control group decreased by 70 % and 60% of the initial value, respectively. With the decrease of glutathione level in the last week of storage, a significant decrease in G6PD activity was observed. The amount of 2,3-DPG decreased to almost zero after 42 days of storage. LDH and lactate increased during storage.

Our results showed that, except for the amount of 2,3-DPG, the rest of the studied parameters were affected by glutathione and glutathione antioxidant was effective in reducing oxidative stress