Membrane alteration during banking of red blood cells.

Irreversible RBC membrane alterations take place during liquid storage (whole blood, RBC concentrates). Major membrane lesions are conformational changes of glycophorines, number reduction of A determinants and NaNa containing negatively charged groups, loss of phospholipids, expression of IgG receptors, redistribution of spectrin and vesiculation. Effects of these changes on the rheological and immunological cell properties as well as their importance for RBC elimination after reinfusion are discussed. Preliminary studies show that low temperature preservation of RBC (-25 degrees C) stabilizes the RBC membrane more extensively than liquid storage techniques.