Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.
Trending News
Is it possible to synthesise blood for transfusion?
I just saw a question that started "if evolution is real", which is always going to go to crazyland. It asked that if humans and apes are so closely related then why not take blood from apes for transfusion into humans. Now, I'm no doctor but I suspect there are a few problems with that idea.
But it got me thinking. We have the ability to create a number of different body tissues from stem cells; would it be possible to create human blood cells and pump them in plasma, or even maybe just saline solution, into people that need it.
Perhaps it could only be used as a stopgap until they can get some real blood, to keep their blood pressure up, but it'd still be incredibly useful.
3 Answers
- BloodDocLv 76 years agoFavorite Answer
At this time, there are currently no red cell substitutes licensed for use in the U.S. There is early research into the production cellular blood products (RBC's, Platelets, White Cells) from pleuripotential hematopoietic stem cells. However, these stem cells have limited replication abilities and mimicking the unique environment of the bone marrow ex-vivo has been extremely difficult. We do anticipate cellular expansion in the future.
Another area of ongoing research focuses on the use of linked hemoglobin solutions as blood replacement fluids. Information may be found by searching for "Oxygen Therapeutics" at the National Library of Medicine, American Association of Blood Banks, or via your favorite search engine. The closest a product has come to reach FDA approval was by Northfields Laboratories in the 2000's. The Green Cross (Japan) did market for a short time in the 1970's a synthetic oxygen carrying liquid made from Perfluorocarbons. Unfortunately, liver failure was seen following administration in some patients and the product was withdrawn from the market. New research has begun on PFC's recently.
An excellent review of red cell expansion for transfusion use may be found at the Nation Library of Medicine web page, listed below:
Source(s): Medical Director - regional blood center
