Or register here
Global Search

Trusted Resources: Evidence & Education

Scientific literature and patient education texts

Back to Evidence & Education / Abstracts & Posters

Comparison of chronic transfusion volume protocols for children with sickle cell anemia

key information

source: American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

year: 2017

authors: Margo R. Rollins, Brookhaven, Marianne E. McPherson Yee, Cassandra Josephson, Ross Fasano

summary/abstract:

Background:
Chronic transfusion therapy (CTT) for sickle cell anemia (SCA) reduces the risk of stroke by diluting hemoglobin S (HbS) with HbA red blood cells and suppressing erythropoiesis. The goal of a CTT regimen is to maintain pre-transfusion HbS <30% while avoiding hyperviscosity; however established protocols for transfusion volumes are lacking.

Objectives:
To compare HbS, reticulocytosis, and total blood transfusion volumes between 2 CTT protocols that use higher vs. lower transfusion volume parameters for pediatric SCA patients.

Results:
There were 82 patients (63 HV, 19 LV protocol, 1 LV/HV) who were followed for 1042 transfusion episodes. Excluding 167 PME and transfusions with TI >40 days, there were 571 HV and 205 LV transfusions. For HV transfusions, there was higher mean transfusion volume (13.3 vs. 12.1 ml/kg, p<0.0001), longer TI (29.9 vs. 27.7 days, p<0.0001), higher Hb (9.74 vs. 9.38 g/dL, p<0.0001), but higher mean HbS (22.4 vs. 20.6%, p=0.034). There was no significant difference in reticulocytes (9.64 vs. 9.09%, p=0.11) or frequency of HbS >30% (21.5% of HV vs. 17.1% of LV transfusions, p=0.18). Including all transfusions, the mean total blood volume per 365 days was 172.4 ml/kg for HV and 168.6 ml/kg for LV transfusions (p=0.58).

Conclusion:
The HV transfusion protocol allowed higher Hb and did not increase the total blood volume received per year; however HbS suppression was greater with the LV protocol. This study did not examine hyperviscosity, which may be a potential concern with higher transfusion volumes.

read more

Related Content

To improve your experience on this site, we use cookies. This includes cookies essential for the basic functioning of our website, cookies for analytics purposes, and cookies enabling us to personalize site content. By clicking on 'Accept' or any content on this site, you agree that cookies can be placed. You may adjust your browser's cookie settings to suit your preferences. More Information

The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.

Close

© 2026 rareLife solutions Inc.

To improve your experience on this site, we use cookies. This includes cookies essential for the basic functioning of our website, cookies for analytics purposes, and cookies enabling us to personalize site content. By clicking on 'Accept' or any content on this site, you agree that cookies can be placed. You may adjust your browser's cookie settings to suit your preferences. More Information

The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.

Close