Purine metabolism in normal and high-ITP human erythrocytes. Attempts to evaluate the ability to store the cells.

Storage of erythrocyte units from donors with ITP pyrophosphohydrolase deficiency have been studied and compared with units from normal donors. Verifying other investigations the incidence of this genetic disorder was found to be as high as about 3%. Hemolysis in the units was higher than in other units and there was a tendency to low total adenylate concentration. It is suggested that blood centers should organize a quality assurance program where one of the aims should be to detect genetic disorders that make the erythrocytes from the donors less suitable for long term liquid storage.