Kinetics of Heat Damaged Autologous Red Blood Cells

Abstract

The kinetics of radiolabeled heat damaged red cell (HDRBC) distribution were studied in humans using a gamma camera, and compared with the kinetics of other blood cells. Liver uptake of 111In labeled HDRBC was completed within about 10 min of injection; splenic uptake was biphasic with a half-time of about 5 min over the first 20 min following injection, and a later half-time much longer than this. Activity initially present in the lung fields cleared within 24 h. The rate constants of liver uptake of 99mTc labeled HDRBC and of 111In labeled platelets were very similar; the rate constants of splenic uptake of these 2 particles were also very similar up to about 20 min following injection when the splenic platelet levels became constant and the HDRBC level continued to slowly rise. Splenic uptake and blood clearance of red cells coated with IgG (IgG-RBC), in contrast to HDRBC, were monoexponential. The blood clearance of HDRBC was due to pooling within the spleen and to irreversible extraction by it. Liver uptake of HDRBC, which was irreversible, was completed within 10 min of injection. IgG-RBC clearance was due to irreversible extraction by the spleen. HDRBC uptake in the lung was unrelated to reticuloendothelial function, and represented prolonged transit through the lung microvasculature.