Serum Concentrations of VCAM-1, P-Selectin, and ICAM-1 are Downregulated during CPDA-1 Storage of Whole Blood

Background: Storage of whole blood is accompanied by biochemical and cellular changes that may alter soluble adhesion molecules. This study evaluated serum concentrations of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and P-selectin during CPDA-1 storage and examined their patterns across ABO blood groups. Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted using 40 whole-blood units from screened healthy male voluntary donors at Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, with 10 units each from blood groups A, B, AB, and O. Whole blood was collected into CPDA-1 bags and stored under blood-bank conditions. Adhesion-molecule concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at serial storage intervals. Results: VCAM-1, P-selectin, and ICAM-1 concentrations generally declined with storage. By Day 22, marked reductions were evident across all blood groups. VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 concentrations were highest in blood group A and lowest in blood group O, whereas P-selectin was highest in blood group AB and lowest in blood group O. VCAM-1 showed a weak, non-significant positive correlation with P-selectin (r = 0.294, p = 0.208) and a strong positive correlation with ICAM-1 (r = 0.888, p = 0.001). Conclusion: CPDA-1 storage was associated with progressive reductions in the measured adhesion molecules. These findings characterise storage-related changes in these soluble markers within the study conditions but do not establish their clinical effects after transfusion.