Prestorage gamma irradiation induces oxidative injury to red cells

BackgroundGamma irradiation of blood results in the formation free radicals, which interact with lipids and proteins in the membranes of red blood cells. We have investigated oxidative injury to gamma-irradiated red cells by measuring markers of oxidative injury and its correlation with red cell membrane damage.MethodsThirty red cell blood units were irradiated at 25 Gy using Gamma Irradiator (Nordion, Canada) and stored at 4 °C for 28 days. Markers of oxidative injury such as MDA levels, methemoglobin formation and osmotic fragility and markers of membrane damage including supernatant Hb, supernatant K+, and LDH were studied.ResultsThere was a progressive and statistically significant increase in markers of oxidative injury such as MDA (3.76 v/s 5.01), and methemoglobin formation (1.87 v/s 3.58) in irradiated red cells compared to control non-irradiated cells. Exposure to gamma irradiation caused significant increase in markers of hemolysis such as supernatant Hb (0.087 v/s 0.363), K+ (35.1 v/s 51.2) and LDH (366.9 v/s 587.4) over the storage period of 28 days.ConclusionGamma irradiation increases lipid peroxidation and oxidative injury to the red cells.