Clinical Significance of Blood Storage Lesions

Transfusions with stored blood products are commonly performed in veterinary medicine to support and treat potentially life-threatening disorders in dogs. The storage of blood products can cause the formation of storage lesions, which can potentially damage red blood cells (RBC), leading to RBC fragility and hemolysis, and creating peri-transfusion complications. Several methods have been developed, including leukoreduction, to reduce the accumulation of storage lesions in stored blood products. However, it is unknown how much of an effect storage lesions have on transfused erythrocytes, and if the techniques designed to reduce storage lesions are effective at reducing transfusion complications. Based on our ongoing research, this session will discuss the formation of storage lesions in units of canine blood products, and if these storage lesions actually play a role in transfusion complications.