The Journal of Pediatrics
Volume 149, Issue 3 , Pages 287-289 , September 2006

Transfusion thresholds for preterm infants: How low should we go?

  • Edward F. Bell, MD

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationReprints not available. Correspondence to Edward F. Bell, MD, Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242.

Received 8 June 2006 ,Accepted 15 June 2006.

References 

  1. Widness JA , Seward VJ , Kromer IJ , Burmeister LF , Bell EF , Strauss RG . Changing patterns of red blood cell transfusion in very low birth weight infants . J Pediatr . 1996;129:680–687
  2. Alagappan A , Shattuck KE , Malloy MH . Impact of transfusion guidelines on neonatal transfusions . J Perinatol . 1998;18:92–97
  3. Maier RF , Sonntag J , Walka MM , Liu G , Metze BC , Obladen M . Changing practices of red blood cell transfusions in infants with birth weight less than 1000 g . J Pediatr . 2000;136:220–224
  4. Franz AR , Pohlandt F . Red blood cell transfusions in very and extremely low birthweight infants under restrictive transfusion guidelines (is exogenous erythropoietin necessary?) . Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed . 2001;84:F96–F100
  5. Blank JP , Sheagren TG , Vajaria J , Mangurten HH , Benawra RS , Puppala BL . The role of RBC transfusion in the premature infants . Am J Dis Child . 1984;138:831–833
  6. Ross MP , Christensen RD , Rothstein G , Koenig JM , Simmons MA , Noble NA , et al.   A randomized trial to develop criteria for administering erythrocyte transfusions to anemic preterm infants 1 to 3 months of age . J Perinatol . 1989;9:246–253
  7. Meyer J , Sive A , Jacobs P . Empiric red cell transfusion in asymptomatic preterm infants . Acta Paediatr . 1993;82:30–34
  8. Brooks SE , Marcus DM , Gillis D , Pirie E , Johnson MH , Bhatia J . The effect of blood transfusion protocol on retinopathy of prematurity (a prospective, randomized study) . Pediatrics . 1999;104:514–518
  9. Bell EF , Strauss RG , Widness JA , Mahoney LT , Mock DM , Seward VJ , et al.   Randomized trial of liberal versus restrictive guidelines for red blood cell transfusion in preterm infants . Pediatrics . 2005;115:1685–1691
  10. Kirpalani H , Whyte RK , Andersen C , Asztalos EV , Heddle N , Blajchman MA , et al.   A randomized controlled trial of a restrictive (low) versus liberal (high) transfusion threshold for extremely low birth weight infants (the PINT study) . J Pediatr . 2006;149:301–307
  11. Strauss RG , Burmeister LF , Johnson K , James T , Miller J , Cordle DG , et al.   AS-1 red cells for neonatal transfusions (a randomized trial assessing donor exposure and safety) . Transfusion . 1996;36:873–878
  12. Strauss RG . Data-driven blood banking practices for neonatal RBC transfusions . Transfusion . 2000;40:1528–1540

 The author of this editorial is also the lead author of one of the two major papers discussed in the editorial.

PII: S0022-3476(06)00560-9

doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2006.06.033

The Journal of Pediatrics
Volume 149, Issue 3 , Pages 287-289 , September 2006

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