Characterization of erythrocyte quality during the refrigerated storage of
whole blood containing di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate
TN Estep, RA Pedersen, TJ Miller and KR Stupar
Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) accumulates in blood brought into
contact with materials utilizing this compound as a plasticizer. To
determine whether this phthalate diester affects red blood cell integrity,
we have compared cell morphology, plasma hemoglobin accumulation,
micro-vesicle production, and the concentration of intracellular
metabolites and electrolytes of erythrocytes from blood stored at 4 degrees
C with and without DEHP. When sufficient emulsified DEHP was mixed with
blood to give a final concentration of 300 micrograms/mL, plasma hemoglobin
accumulation was reduced by an average of 70%, the percentage of cells
exhibiting normal morphology was enhanced by at least 20-fold, and the
volume of microvesicles released from red blood cells was reduced by 50%
after 35 days of refrigerated storage compared to the values obtained from
corresponding samples stored without added phthalate. Similar effects were
observed regardless of whether blood was stored in nonplasticized
polypropylene or tri-(2-ethylhexyl) trimellitate plasticized
polyvinylchloride containers and with DEHP solubilized by a variety of
emulsifiers. When 300 micrograms/mL DEHP was added to stored blood
containing erythrocytes predominantly in the echinocyte conformation, many
of the cells reverted to the normal discoid morphology. The addition of
this quantity of DEHP to blood had no significant effect on the course of
storage-induced changes in erythrocyte adenosine triphosphate (ATP),
2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG), sodium or potassium concentrations. The
data are consistent with the hypothesis that DEHP inhibits the
deterioration of the red blood cell membrane that results from the
refrigerated storage of whole blood.
Volume 64,
Issue 6,
pp. 1270-1276,
12/01/1984
Copyright © 1984 by The American Society of Hematology
