Alterations in glutathione during storage of human platelet concentrates

Glutathione and glutathione disulfide decline rapidly and progressively in human platelet concentrates stored for up to 7 days at 22 degrees C. Total glutathione declines progressively throughout the storage period, with an estimated half‐disappearance time of 2 days. Glutathione disulfide remains constant during the first 2 days of storage but declines progressively thereafter, with an estimated half‐disappearance time of 3.2 days. Based on measurements of glutathione disulfide in freshly collected platelets, the authors postulate that glutathione disulfide is elevated during the production of platelet concentrates or during the first 2 days of storage, accounting for the lag in its decay curve. Since total glutathione decreases more rapidly than glutathione disulfide, the fraction of glutathione present in the oxidized form increases throughout the storage period. Glutathione‐dependent mechanisms maintain essential cell proteins in the appropriate redox states and provide avenues for the detoxification of potentially noxious compounds generated by the cell or within its environment. Changes in platelet glutathione and glutathione disulfide during storage may be responsible for storage‐dependent alterations in in vitro functions and may also affect subsequent in vivo recovery and survival upon reinfusion.