Enhanced nonenzymatic glycosylation of blood proteins in stored blood.

Significantly enhanced nonenzymatic glycosylation of hemoglobin, plasma, and erythrocyte membrane proteins was demonstrated following storage of whole blood in the liquid state under conventional blood bank conditions. Among the blood components studied, the proteins of the erythrocyte membrane were mainly involved, although the levels of glycosylated hemoglobin and plasma proteins were also significantly increased. In contrast to the nonenzymatic glycosylation observed in vivo in patients with diabetes, the in vitro process is less intensive and most probably results in less functional alteration.