The present study aimed to characterize the function and hemorheology of red blood cells (RBCs) recovered during liver transplantation surgery in patients with hepatitis B and decompensation. A total of 15 hepatitis B patients with decompensation who underwent liver transplantation surgery were included in the present study. Blood samples were recovered during the liver transplantation surgery using an Autologous Blood Recovery System. The morphology and structure of RBCs were characterized and compared between pre-operative and recovered blood samples. In addition, the physiological functions of RBCs were measured and compared between pre-operative and recovered blood samples. No significant differences in the morphological score, 2,3-diphosphoglycerate, Na+K+-ATPase, Ca2+-ATPase, Mg2+-ATPase, malondialdehyde and osmotic fragility were identified between RBCs in the pre-operative and recovered blood samples. The level of free hemoglobin in RBCs of the recovered blood samples was significantly higher than in the pre-operative blood samples (P<0.05). Medium- and high-shear blood viscosities in the recovered blood samples were significantly lower than those observed in the pre-operative blood samples (P<0.05). Casson viscosity in the recovered blood samples was significantly higher compared with the pre-operative blood samples. However, no significant differences (P>0.05) in the low-shear blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, relative blood viscosity, erythrocyte aggregation index or Casson yield stress were identified between recovered and pre-operative blood samples. These findings suggested that autologous blood transfusion in liver transplantation surgery in patients with hepatitis B and decompensation had no significant influence on the morphology, structure, function and hemorheology of RBCs.
Keywords: autologous blood transfusion; hemorheology; hepatitis B; liver transplantation; physiological function; red blood cells.