Cell-Derived Microparticles in Stored Blood Products: Innocent-Bystanders or Effective Mediators of Post-Transfusion Reactions?

This review outlines the current knowledge on MPs present in blood labile products used for transfusion: their formation, the effect of storage and their probable activities towards both the “storage lesion” progression as well as the post-transfusion effects. Although the current clinical studies offer only indirect manifestations of MPs activity in the recipients, a lot of data suggest that MPs cotransfused with stored cells and plasma may exert various favorable or adverse effects pre- and post-transfusion, but are definitely not bystanders in any step of this clinically important process.