Effect of large volume red blood cell apheresis on cardiovascular functions in healthy donors

• Published in: European journal of clinical investigation 2023-11, Vol.53 (11), p.e14047-e14047
• Main Authors: Chen, Qiang, Chen, Guan Yi, Chen, Jian Mei, Yang, Fei Fei, Han, Yue, Wang, Li Hua, Wu, Jing Hui, Ji, Dong Dong, Yuan, Su Qin, Zhang, Mei Qing, Ma, Ling Ling, Zhu, Fei, Wang, Qiu Shuang, Ouyang, Xi Lin, Zhang, Li Wei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Apheresis; Biomarkers; Blood & organ donations; Blood transfusion; Echocardiography; Erythrocytes; Functional testing; Hematocrit; Hemoglobin
• ISSN: 0014-2972; 1365-2362
• DOI: 10.1111/eci.14047

Requirements of blood transfusions rise rapidly in China. Improving the efficiency of blood donation could help maintaining sufficient blood supplement. We conducted a pilot research to investigate the reliability and safety of collecting more units of red blood cell by apheresis. Thirty-two healthy male volunteers were randomized into two groups: red blood cell apheresis (RA) (n = 16) and whole blood (WB) donation (n = 16). RA group donated individualized RBC volumes by apheresis according to the volunteers' basal total blood volumes and haematocrit levels, WB group donated 400 mL whole blood. All volunteers were scheduled seven visit times in 8 weeks' study period. The cardiovascular functions were assessed by laboratory examinations, echocardiography and cardiopulmonary functional tests. All results were compared between groups at the same visit time and compared between visit 1(before donation) and other visit times within the same group. The average donated RBC volume in RA group and in WB group was 627.25 ± 109.74 mL and 175.28 ± 8.85 mL, respectively(p  0.05). We provided an efficient and secure method for RBC apheresis. By harvesting more RBC volumes at one single-time, the cardiovascular functions did not change significantly compared with traditional whole blood donation.