Discocyte--echinocyte reversibility in blood stored in CPD over a period of 56 days.

Blood collected with CPD and stored was examined with optical (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) before and after reversal of echinocytes into discocytes. Reversal was achieved by incubation of the red blood cells at 37 C in an adenosine containing medium. The transformation of discocytes into echinocytes occurred rapidly during the first three weeks of storage. A shape/density relationship was observed in the various fractions. The denser cells were found to have the more advanced echinocytic changes. After incubation with adenosine, most of the cells reversed into discocytes and early stages of stomatocytes. When spheroechinocytes I and II were present, they reversed into spherostomatocytes. No echinocytogenic property was found in plasma during 5 weeks of storage at 4 C and no immediate reversion of echinocytes was obtained in fresh plasma, therefore the initial discocyte--echinocyte transformation was explained by intracellular changes. The data from the various fractions showed that the more dense cells were more spherocytic. We suggest that removal of this part of the population of stored red blood cells might improve the survival of transfused cells.