Patients given artificial blood

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Taken from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3207291.stm

 

Doctors have for the first time successfully used artificial blood to treat

patients.

The product is a powder which can be stored for years, say scientists at

Stockholm's Karolinska Hospital.

It is made from donated supplies of real blood, which normally has a shelf-life

of just 42 days.

The powder can then be mixed into liquid form when needed, and used immediately

regardless of the patient's blood type.

 

Dr Pierre LaFolie, chief physician at the Karolinska Hospital, said that if

artificial blood were approved for use it could lead to dramatic changes in

health care.

 

He said: " If this really works all the way, then mankind will have taken a big

step forward. This is like landing on the moon. "

Dr LaFolie said synthetic blood could save time after an accident - particularly

as there is no need test a patient's blood type before administering a

transfusion.

Rapid effect

The synthetic blood has also been shown to transport oxygen through the body

better than real blood, which can help limit damage to the body, for example

during a heart attack.

Dr LaFolie said: " In acute situations time is of the essence, within an hour all

these things have to be done.

" That's why I think this artificial blood is so important for people. "

The blood would be used to complement a patient's own blood, not replace it, as

real blood has qualities that the artificial blood lacks.

The synthetic blood has been developed by researchers in the US - the exact

process for developing it has been kept secret - and it has been tested for the

first time on eight patients at Karolinska Hospital.

Lead researcher Professor Bengt Fagrell said: " There has been no sign that the

blood would be rejected.

" This is a molecule that the body's immune system gladly welcomes. "

Professor Fagrell said the patients had been administered artificial blood made

out of human red blood cells.

However, he said red blood cells from any mammal could be used.

" We have chosen to use human blood for ethical reasons. But we could use blood

within the entire mammal chain, such as cow blood. "

Belinda Linden, head of medical information at the British Heart Foundation

said: " There is limited availability of fresh blood for transfusion.

" This is due to the short-fall of donors and an increased number of surgical

procedures which require blood.

" It is becoming more important to consider safe and effective alternatives.

" There have been previous studies examining the potential of red blood cell

substitutes, but this process would need to be evaluated with large groups of

people before it is considered for approval. "

 

 

 

Any comments from a TCM prespective on this?

 

 

 

 

Kind regards

 

Attilio

 

Chinese Traditional Medicine

 

 

 

 

 

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