Red blood cell transfusions in very and extremely low birthweight infants under restrictive transfusion guidelines: is exogenous erythropoietin necessary?

摘要

OBJECTIVE—To examinethe number and volume of red blood cell transfusions (RBCTs) in veryand extremely low birthweight infants under restrictive red blood celltransfusion guidelines without erythropoietin administration, and tocompare the results with those reported in similar infants receiving erythropoietin.
METHODS—From April1996 to June 1999, all RBCTs given to infants with a birth weight ofless than 1500 g were prospectively recorded. Data on RBCT combinedwith erythropoietin treatment and RBCT guidelines were extracted fromfour prospective randomised trials of erythropoietin for anaemia of prematurity.
RESULTS—When therestrictive RBCT guidelines were followed, the number of RBCTs andvolume transfused were similar to those reported during erythropoietin administration.
CONCLUSIONS—RBCTguidelines may have a similar impact on RBCT in very low birthweightinfants to the administration of erythropoietin. The effect of RBCTguidelines on RBCT frequency should be considered when evaluating theefficacy of erythropoietin administration to preterm infants.