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Concentrated Red Blood Cells (CRC) are contaminated with White Blood Cells. Many of the transfusion related problems are attributed to these cells and to cytokines which are produced during the storage period and remain with the RBC even after successful bedside filtration of the later. Pre-storage leucodepletion (LD) might prevent the generation of such cytokines and reduce further the possibility of transfusion related events. Materials and Methods: Six whole blood units where collected,processed and stored (42d) in Maco Pharma's conventional triple CPD/SAG-M bags. Samples of the CRC were taken on day 0,1,2,5,9,20,27,36,40,42 for counting of WBC and assaying of IL1b,IL6,IFNa and IFNg (Elisa,AMERSHAM). Six other units were collected in Maco Pharma?s triple siamese CPD/SAG-M bags with in-line whole blood filter,leucodepleted,processed and stored (42d).Samples of the CRC were taken on dO for WBC counting (Nageotte method) and on the aforementioned days for assaying the same cytokines as before. Results: The in-line filter was very efficient in removing WBC (reduction ³4.5 log). WBC counts in the non LD units steadily dropped from 10 to 2.5 × 10[sup 9]/I.Values hereafter are median and express pg/ml.IL 1b and IL6 were non existent throughout the study in the LD units. In the other group IL1b appeared on d2 and kept rising throughout the study (6.2 on d.42) and IL6 rised from 0.5 at d0 to 1.6 at d42.IFNg in the LD set was assayed on d0 at 3, rised to 4.4 on d2 and gradually decreased to 0 on d42. In the other group it started from 12.3, rised to 16.7 on d2 and decreased to virtually 0 on d42.IFNa in the LD group started from 0.7, slowly increased to 0.88 on d9,decreased to 0 on d27 and remained so. In the other group it started from 1.67, exceeded 2.3 by d9 and gradually decreased to 0.9 on d42. Discussion: Pre-storage LD prevented the generation of IL1b and IL6.IFNa and g seem to be generated in both groups, more prominently in the non LD one, and this could be explained by their generation during process as well as by the number of WBC contained in the bag. Conclusion: Pre-storage LD prevents the generation of certain cytokines in the stored RBC. The clinical relevance of this remains to be investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]