(HealthNewsDigest.com) -Transfusion of donated blood more than three weeks old results in impaired blood vessel function, a new study of hospital patients shows.

Blood banks now consider six weeks to be the maximum permitted storage time of blood for use in transfusion, but recent studies have suggested transfusing blood stored for more than a few weeks has adverse effects in patients undergoing cardiac surgery or critical care.

The new finding suggests a mechanism explaining why older blood might be detrimental to patient health: a deficiency in nitric oxide, a short-lived chemical messenger that relaxes blood vessels.

The results were presented at the American College of Cardiology 62nd Scientific Sessions in San Francisco. 

Read More: http://news.emory.edu/stories/2013/03/acc_mtg_stored_blood_nitric_oxide/index.html

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