The protective effects of lidocaine on human erythrocytes stored for seven days at 04 degrees C.

Erythrocyte storage may result in cell damage due to an alteration of membrane integrity, which results in potassium efflux and hemolysis. Lidocaine has been shown to protect erythrocytes from oxidative stress by a possible membrane effect. We conducted this study to examine the effects of lidocaine on human erythrocyte storage. Erythrocytes were kept for seven days at 04 degrees C in the absence or in presence of plasma, and of lidocaine at 36.9 and 221.6 microM. Cell damage was assessed by measuring potassium efflux in the supernatant after seven days, and studying potassium efflux and hemolysis induced by oxidative stress. As expected, erythrocyte storage in the presence of plasma was less deleterious. Lidocaine decreased potassium efflux after 7 days' storage. Resistance toward oxidative stress was greater when the erythrocytes had been kept in the presence of plasma. Considering that lidocaine is widely used in various clinical situations, this data may be of clinical relevance.