Vox sanguinis
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Studies in mice suggest that rapid transfusions of red blood cells (RBCs), refrigerator stored for longer durations, induce a pro-inflammatory cytokine response. Studies in human neonates confirm these findings; however, to date, adult human studies have failed to replicate these findings. We used healthy research dogs to begin to examine the factors affecting the cytokine response to transfusion. ⋯ In healthy dogs, old RBC transfusions induce inflammation, which is unaffected by infusion rate.