Bosch X, Montori E, Guerra-García M, Costa-Rodríguez J, Quintanilla MH, Tolosa-Chapasian PE, Moreno P, Guasch N, López-Soto A. Haemoglobin responses to transfusion in severe iron deficiency anaemia: potential impact of gastrointestinal disorders.
Vox Sang 2017;
112:257-267. [PMID:
28198025 DOI:
10.1111/vox.12491]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2016] [Revised: 12/19/2016] [Accepted: 12/28/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion may be justified in iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) when an increase in oxygen delivery is needed, as sometimes occurs in subjects with haemoglobin <8·0 mg/dL, serious comorbidities or at risk of cardiovascular instability. Earlier investigations showed that some patients with severe IDA requiring transfusion had lower than expected post-transfusion haemoglobin levels with poorer clinical outcomes than other patients. After hypothesizing that haemoglobin responses to transfusion were different and that the underlying gastrointestinal (GI) disorders causing IDA could be a confounder explaining this association, these responses were analysed in a prospective cohort of IDA adults referred for outpatient GI investigation.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Transfused patients with proven IDA, baseline haemoglobin at referral <9·0 g/dL and no extraintestinal bleeding were eligible. To assess a homogeneous population, only GI disorders known to cause occult bleeding were considered. Haemoglobin increments per 100 mL of RBCs were investigated.
RESULTS
In total, 2818 patients were enrolled over 10·5 years. On multivariable regression, diffuse angiodysplasias and GI cancer independently predicted for reduced increments in post-transfusion haemoglobin [adjusted regression coefficients: -0·082 (95% confidence interval, -0·093 to -0·072) and -0·073 (95% confidence interval, -0·081 to -0·066), respectively, P < 0·001 in both]. Haemoglobin responses in the remaining bleeding disorders were adequate and agreed with the principle that one RBC unit increases the haemoglobin an average of 1 g/dL.
CONCLUSION
The potential differential impact of GI disorders on changes in haemoglobin levels after RBC transfusion could be useful for transfusing physicians, especially for diagnostic purposes.
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