Irradiation of a unit of Red Blood Cells is performed to prevent the replication of what cellular component?

Irradiation of a unit of Red Blood Cells is specifically performed to prevent the replication of lymphocytes. Lymphocytes are white blood cells that can cause transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (TA-GvHD) in immunocompromised patients.

During transfusions, transfused lymphocytes can proliferate in the recipient's immune system and attack the recipient's tissues, which can lead to severe complications. By exposing the blood products to gamma radiation, the DNA of these lymphocytes is damaged, preventing them from dividing and thus effectively eliminating the risk of GvHD in patients who are most at-risk, such as those undergoing stem cell transplantation or those with significant immunosuppression.

Red cells, platelets, and granulocytes do not have the same propensity to cause this issue, as they do not replicate in the same way as lymphocytes once transfused into the recipient. Therefore, targeting lymphocytes through irradiation is a crucial safety measure in blood banking practices for vulnerable populations.