Haemoglobin-based blood substitutes and sepsis.

An important concern that has received little attention is the possible increased susceptibility to bacterial infections of patients infused with cell-free haemoglobin-based blood substitutes. We show that pyridoxalated polymerised human haemoglobin promotes fulminating Escherichia coli septicaemia in mice, which draws attention to the potential danger of such products in the clinic.