Decreased survival in necrotizing enterocolitis is significantly associated with neonatal and maternal blood group: the AB isoagglutinin hypothesis

Neonatal Blood Banking Practices

There is little formal guidance to direct neonatal blood banking practices and, as a result, practices vary widely across institutions. In this vulnerable patient population with a high transfusion burden, considerations for blood product selection include freshness, extended-storage media, pathogen inactivation, and other modifications. The authors discuss the potential unintended adverse impacts in the neonatal recipient. Concerns such as immunodeficiency, donor exposures, cytomegalovirus transmission, volume overload, transfusion-associated hyperkalemia, and passive hemolysis from ABO incompatibility have driven modifications of blood components to improve safety.

The role of intestinal alkaline phosphatase in the development of necrotizing enterocolitis

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating neonatal disease that affects neonates worldwide and often leads to high morbidity and mortality rates. Despite extensive research, the cause of NEC remains unclear, and current treatment options are limited. An important novel finding is the potential role of intestinal Alkaline Phosphatase (IAP) in both pathogenesis and treatment of NEC. IAP can play a vital role in detoxifying liposaccharides (LPS), a key mediator of many pathological processes, thereby reducing the inflammatory response associated with NEC. Furthermore, IAP can help prevent dysbiosis, improve intestinal perfusion, and promote autophagy. In this comprehensive review, we present evidence of the possible connection between IAP and the LPS/Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) pathway, impaired gut immunity, and dysbiosis in the preterm gut. Based on these findings, the administration of exogenous IAP might provide promising preventive and therapeutic avenues for the management of NEC.

Necrotizing enterocolitis and mortality after transfusion of ABO non-identical blood

BACKGROUND

The relationship between ABO non-identical transfusion and the outcomes of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and all-cause mortality in very-low birth weight (VLBW) neonates receiving red blood cell transfusion is unknown.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

A retrospective multicenter cohort study was conducted in VLBW neonates in neonatal intensive care units between 2004 and 2016. VLBW (≤1500 grams) neonates were followed until discharge or in-hospital death. The primary exposure was ABO group. Secondary exposures included platelet count, plasma transfusions, and maternal ABO group. Outcome measures were NEC (defined as Bell stage ≥ 2) and all-cause mortality. Time-dependent Cox regression models with competing risks were used to investigate factors associated with NEC and mortality.

RESULTS

Thousand and sixteen neonates were included with 10.8% developing NEC (n = 110) and 14.1% mortality (n = 143). Platelet count (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.995; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.922-0.998) and number of plasma transfusions (HR = 2.908; 95% CI:1.265-6.682) were associated with NEC, while ABO group (non-O vs. O) was not (HR = 0.761; 95% CI: 0.393-1.471). Higher all-cause mortality occurred in neonates without NEC who were non-O compared with O (HR = 17.5; 95% CI: 1.784-171.692), but not in neonates with NEC (HR = 1.112; 95% CI: 0.142-8.841). Plasma transfusion was associated with increased mortality in both groups.

DISCUSSION

ABO non-identical transfusion was not associated with NEC or mortality in neonates with NEC. It was associated with increased mortality in neonates without NEC. As many neonatal intensive care units transfuse only O group blood as routine practice, future trials are needed to investigate the association between this practice and neonatal mortality.

Blood group AB is associated with poor outcomes in infants with necrotizing enterocolitis

BACKGROUND

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a neonatal disease associated with necrosis and perforation of the bowel. We investigated the association between blood group and NEC outcomes and the potential contribution of fetal-maternal blood group incompatibility.

METHODS

Retrospective study including all preterm-born infants with NEC (≥ Bell's stage IIa) admitted to our NICU between January 2008 and October 2019. We analyzed the association between infants' blood groups and fetal-maternal blood group incompatibility with Bell stage severity, need for surgery, and mortality due to NEC.

RESULTS

We included 237 NEC patients. In univariable analyses both AB blood group and fetal-maternal blood group incompatibility increased infants' risk of severe outcomes, with odds ratios (OR) ranging from 6.57 to 12.06 and 1.97 to 2.38, respectively. When adjusted for gestational age only AB blood group remained significant with OR 7.47 (95% confidence interval, 1.95-28.53, P = 0.003), 12.37 (2.63-58.20, P = 0.001), and 8.16 (2.28-29.14, P = 0.001) for NEC Bell's stage III, need for surgery, and NEC related mortality, respectively. Blood group incompatibility adjusted for gestational age was not related to worse outcomes with OR 1.84 (0.87-3.89, P = 0.11, 2.08 (0.98-4.41, P = 0.06) 1.52 (0.68-3.42, P = 0.31), for NEC Bell's stage III, need for surgery, and NEC related mortality, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Our data confirm an association between blood group AB and worse outcomes in NEC infants, but this is not based on fetal-maternal blood group incompatibility.

Commentary on Blood group AB is associated with poor outcomes in infants with necrotizing enterocolitis

This is a commentary on the manuscript titled "Blood Group AB is Associated with Poor Outcomes in Infants with Necrotizing Enterocolitis" by Dos Santos Martins R, Kool E, Kalteren W, et al.

Blood group AB increases risk for surgical necrotizing enterocolitis and focal intestinal perforation in preterm infants with very low birth weight

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and focal intestinal perforation (FIP) are two of the most common emergencies of the gastrointestinal tract in preterm infants with very low birth weight (VLBW, birth weight < 1500 g). Identification of risk factors among these children is crucial for earlier diagnosis and prompt intervention. In this study, we investigated a relationship between ABO blood groups and the risk for surgical NEC/FIP. We genotyped the ABO locus (rs8176746 and rs8176719) in VLBW infants enrolled in a prospective, population-based cohort study of the German Neonatal Network (GNN). Of the 10,257 VLBW infants, 441 (4.3%) had surgical NEC/FIP. In univariate analyses, the blood group AB was more prevalent in VLBW infants with surgical NEC/FIP compared to non-AB blood groups (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.07–2.13, p = 0.017; absolute risk difference 2.01%, 95% CI 0.06–3.96%). The association between blood group AB and surgical NEC/FIP was observed in a multivariable logistic regression model (OR of 1.58, 95% CI 1.10–2.26, p = 0.013) as well. In summary, our study suggests that the risk of surgical NEC and FIP is higher in patients with blood group AB and lower in those having non-AB blood groups.

An Unknown Risk Factor for Sepsis in Very Low Birth Weight Preterms: ABO Blood Groups (BGaPS Study)

OBJECTIVE

There is insufficient study of the association of blood groups with neonatal diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the blood groups associated with sepsis and blood groups in preterm infants.

STUDY DESIGN

This retrospective study was conducted between January 1, 2010 and November 31, 2018 in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). This study was done in single-center tertiary NICU. Infants born at gestational age (GA) <32 weeks with birth weight (BW) <1,500 g were included in the study.

RESULTS

A total of 2,548 infants were included. The culture-proven sepsis ratio (30.2%) was the lowest in the O blood group and the highest in the AB blood group (37.5%) (p = 0.045). Meningitis ratio (6.5%) was significantly higher, and hospital stay (64.1 ± 33.9 days) was significantly longer in B blood group (respectively, p = 0.005, p < 0.001). In the AB blood group, GA (27.68 ± 1.12 weeks) was the lowest and early onset sepsis (EOS) (40.1%) and mortality (28.9%) ratio were found to be statistically higher (p < 0.001 for all groups). The AB group was significantly related to higher frequency of EOS (odds ratio [OR] = 2.93, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.68-5.12, p = 0.000), in addition to mortality (OR = 1.1, 95% CI = 0.55-2.19, p = 0.001). The O group was found to be associated with lower risk of late onset sepsis (LOS) (OR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.06-3.058, p = 0.003) according to the model with corrected risk factor including GA, BW, and time of hospitalization.

CONCLUSION

Our study was the first study showing a relationship between certain blood groups and EOS/LOS in premature infants as well as meningitis.

The association between AB blood group and neonatal disease

BACKGROUND

Numerous studies have examined the association between ABO blood groups and adult disease states, but very few have studied the neonatal population. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between AB blood group and the occurrence of common neonatal disorders such as neutropenia at birth, sepsis, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) compared to all other blood groups.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review on 3,981 infants born at 22 0/7 to 42 6/7 weeks' gestational age and compared the relative risk of neonatal diseases in infants with AB blood group to that of infants with all other blood groups (A, B, and O).

RESULTS

When compared to all other blood groups, AB infants demonstrated an increased risk for developing negative clinical outcomes. AB blood group was significantly associated with a 14-89% increased risk of neutropenia at birth, sepsis, RDS, and ROP. Risks for IVH and PDA were not significant.

CONCLUSION

We hypothesize that the phenotypic expression of A and B antigens, rather than the antigens themselves, in the AB group may reveal an enhanced susceptibility to injury at the endothelial level resulting in an increased risk for disease development.

Red blood cell transfusion in premature infants leads to worse necrotizing enterocolitis outcomes

BACKGROUND

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a severe intestinal disease of premature infants with high mortality. Studies suggest a causative relationship between red blood cell (RBC) transfusion and NEC; however, whether RBC transfusion leads to worse outcomes in NEC is unknown. We sought to determine whether RBC transfusion was associated with an increased risk of surgical NEC and mortality.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, 115 patients were enrolled with NEC Bell's stage 2A or greater from 2010-2015. Patients were classified based on the timing of RBC transfusion before NEC: ≤72 h, >72 h, and no transfusion. Variables including gestational age (GA), birth weight (BW), feedings, and hematocrit levels were analyzed. Outcomes were surgical intervention for NEC following RBC transfusion and mortality.

RESULTS

Twenty-three (20%) infants developed NEC ≤ 72 h after RBC transfusion, 16 (69.6%) required surgery with a mortality rate of 21.7% (n = 5). Seventeen (15%) infants developed NEC > 72 h after RBC transfusion, 12 (70.6%) required surgery with a mortality rate of 23.5% (n = 4). 75 (65%) patients developed NEC without RBC transfusion, 17 (22.7%) required surgery with a mortality rate of 4% (n = 3). Lower GA and BW were significantly associated with RBC transfusion and the need for surgical intervention. RBC transfusion ≤72 h before NEC was associated with surgical NEC (pairwise adjusted P < 0.001) and mortality (pairwise adjusted P = 0.048). However, multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed RBC transfusion is not an independent risk factor for surgical NEC.

CONCLUSIONS

Infants of lower GA and BW were more likely to receive an RBC transfusion before NEC, which was significantly associated with surgical intervention and an increasing risk of mortality. Judicious use of transfusions in premature infants may improve NEC outcomes.

Comparison of outcomes of group O vs non-group O premature neonates receiving group O RBC transfusions

OBJECTIVES

At some institutions all infants requiring RBC transfusions in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) receive only group O RBCs. Although transfused group O plasma is minimized in packed RBCs, small amounts of residual anti-A, anti-B, and anti-A,B in group O packed RBCs may bind to the corresponding A and B antigens of non-group O RBCs, possibly hemolyzing their native RBCs and thereby releasing free hemoglobin, theoretically resulting in hypercoagulability and promoting bacterial growth from free iron.

METHODS

Premature infants in the University of Kentucky Children's Hospital NICU database who were transfused (all received group O transfusions) were compared for a number of severity markers to determine if non-group O patients had worse outcomes than group O patients.

RESULTS

In this NICU sample, 724 neonates received at least 1 blood component. No significant differences were found between group O and non-group O infants with regard to final disposition or complications.

CONCLUSIONS

This reassuring finding validates the longstanding neonatal transfusion practice of using group O packed RBCs for infants of all blood groups in the NICU. However, a recent study shows increased mortality from necrotizing enterocolitis in group AB neonates at a facility transfusing only group O RBCs to neonates of all blood groups and suggests a change in neonatal transfusion practice to ABO group-specific RBCs; therefore more studies may be warranted.