Method of enhancing efficacy of blood transfusions

1. A method of improving the efficacy of a blood transfusion into a subject comprising administering (i) a composition comprising hexaPEGylated-albumin, (ii) a composition comprising a PEGylated and polynitroxylated albumin or (iii) a composition comprising PEGylated-albumin covalently bonded to an antioxidant to the subject, wherein the composition is administered to the subject during, or subsequent to, the blood transfusion into the subject.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hexaPEGylated-albumin is administered and is an extension arm facilitated (EAF) PEGylated-albumin.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the blood transfusion comprises blood or a blood component, and the blood or the blood component has been obtained from a blood donor more than two weeks prior to the transfusion.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the blood transfusion comprises blood or a blood component, and the blood or the blood component has been obtained from a blood donor more than one month prior to the transfusion.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the albumin is human albumin.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hexaPEGylated albumin is administered.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the albumin covalently bonded to an antioxidant is administered.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polynitroxylated albumin is administered.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject (i) has suffered a hemorrhage; (ii) is undergoing surgery; (iii) has undergone surgery within the previous 30 days; (iv) is suffering from an effect of a hemorrhagic shock; (v) has lost more than 15% of his or her blood volume within the last 48 hours; or (vi) has a sickle cell disease.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the PEG of the PEGylated albumins is 5,000 mw PEG.

11. A method for reducing one or more lesions resulting from, or associated with, storage of a red blood cell-containing composition, blood, or a blood derivative intended for subsequent transfusion, comprising admixing the red blood cell-containing composition, blood, or a blood derivative with an amount of an EAF PEGylated-blood protein antioxidant conjugate which is EAF P5K6 Albumin Tempol 12 or (EAF P5K6 Albumin Tempol of 12) n wherein n is a positive integer from 1 to 40 in an amount effective to reduce one or more lesions resulting from, or associated with, storage.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the EAF PEGylated-blood protein antioxidant conjugate is EAF P5K6 Albumin Tempol 12.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the (EAF P5K6 Albumin Tempol 12) n is used and wherein n is a positive integer from 4 to 40.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the red blood cell-containing composition, blood, or blood derivative is stored for one week, two weeks, three weeks, or four weeks prior to transfusion.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the lesion is degradation of oxygen-carrying capacity.

16. The method of claim 6 , wherein the hexaPEGylated albumin is 4% w/v hexaPEGylated albumin.