Evaluation of Stored Whole Blood and Monitoring the Health of Dogs After Transfusion Using Fresh Whole Blood, Stored Whole Blood, and Packed Red Blood Cells

Abstract

Blood products have been widely used in emergencies and treatment, necessitating optimal storage conditions to maintain quality. The current study aimed to evaluate the blood quality during storage, transfusion effectiveness, and reactions during and after transfusion in dogs. Five Greyhounds, including three males and two females aged 2.5 years old, and with 25-30 kg bodyweight, were selected and randomly labeled N1, N2, N3, N4, and N5. Fresh whole blood, stored whole blood, and packed red blood cells from the samples dogs were used for transfusion in the study. The investigated parameters were total protein (TP), aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), total carbon dioxide (tCO2¬), creatine kinase (CK), creatinine (CREA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), glucose (GLU), white blood cells (WBC), red blood cells (RBC), hematocrit (HCT), plaletes (PLT), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), chloride (Cl), manganese (Mg), sodium (Na), and potassium (K). The results indicated that all parameters of stored blood samples were in the normal range during 28 days of storage in a refrigerator at 2-4°C. However, some parameters (TP, AST, ALT, ALP, LDH, MCV, tCO2, and K) increased, while others (CK, CREA, BUN, GLU, WBC, RBC, HCT, PLT, Ca, P, Cl, Mg, and Na) decreased during the storage period, especially Ca, P, and Na were below the normal range. All dogs indicated no reactions during and 5 hours after transfusion. However, dogs had symptoms of inappetence and mild diarrhea in 1-2 days after transfusion. Dogs received fresh whole blood recovered on day 3, while dogs of the stored blood recipient group recovered on day 4. By day 5, all dogs were healthy with no abnormal signs. The findings indicated the presence of hematological and biochemical alterations in stored blood, highlighting the importance of considering transfusion of stored blood for patients with critical medical conditions.