The accumulation of lipids and proteins during red blood cell storage: the roles of leucoreduction and experimental filtration.

Pre-storage leucoreduction has been universally adopted in most developed countries in Asia, Europe and the Americas. It decreases febrile transfusion reactions, alloimmunisation to HLA antigens, cytomegalovirus exposure, the accumulation of a number of pro-inflammatory mediators in the supernatant, including the accumulation of platelet-and leucocyte-derived proteins and metabolites during routine storage. This review will highlight the lipids and proteins, biological response modifiers (BRMs) that accumulate, their clinical effects in transfused hosts, and methods of mitigation.