Compositions and Methods for the Storage of Red Blood Cells

Abstract

The present invention provides an aqueous composition for storage of red blood cells consisting essentially of: adenine; dextrose; at least one nonmetabolizable membrane-protectant sugar; and a specifically defined pH buffering system. Also provided are improved methods for preserving red blood cells and methods for increasing the viability, membrane retention, and recoverability while suppressing apoptosis, hemolysis, and post-reinfusion clearance of stored red blood cells which utilize the novel compositions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composition for the storage of red blood cells (RBCs) wherein the composition consists essentially of adenine in an amount of about 2 mM, dextrose in an amount of about 80 mM, nonmetabolizable membrane-protectant sugar in an amount of about 55 mM, sodium bicarbonate in an amount of about 26 mM, and disodium phosphate in an amount of about 12 mM. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition has a pH of about 8.5. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the volume ratio of the composition to collected whole blood is about 1:4.5. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition has an osmolarity of from about 200 to about 310 mOsm. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition has an osmolarity of from about 221 to about 280 mOsm. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition has an osmolarity of about 270 mOsm. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is operable to maintain the pH of the red blood cells (RBC) to which the composition has been added to between about 6.4 to about 7.4. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the composition is operable to maintain the pH of the red blood cells (RBCs) to which the composition has been added to between 7.0 to less than about 7.2. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 8 , wherein the composition is operable to maintain the pH of the red blood cells (RBCs) to which the composition has been added to between greater than about 7.1 and less than 7.2. 
     
     
         10 . A composition for the storage of red blood cells (RBCs), said composition consisting essentially of:
 1 to 3 mM adenine,   20 to 115 mM dextrose,   15 to 60 mM non-metabolizeable membrane protectant sugar, and   a pH buffering system, wherein the pH buffering system is selected so that the composition is operable to maintain the pH of the red blood cells (RBCs) to which the composition has been added between about 6.4 to 7.4.