Influence of red blood cell storage time on clinical course and cytokine profile in septic shock patients.

In the present prospective, observational, blinded, non-randomized study, hemodynamic parameters as well as marker of inflammatory response and endothelial activation in addition to clinical parameters were investigated in 18 septic patients receiving fresh (≤ 7 days) or stored RBCs (> 7 days). The sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score was calculated for 7 days. No significant differences in hemodynamic or laboratory parameters as well as SOFA score were found between the two groups. However, a significant trend towards an improvement in the SOFA score was observed in patients receiving fresh RBCs. Larger randomized studies with well defined primary and secondary endpoints are necessary to investigate the effects of fresh versus stored RBCs in critically ill patients.

– Rainer Moog