University of Wisconsin Hematology

Transfusion Medicine

General

 

  1. Hess J. Blood and coagulation support in trauma care. Hematology 2007:187
  2. Hunt et al. A practical guideline for the haematological management of major haemorrhage. Br J Haematol 2015;171:788
  3. Holcomb et al. Transfusion of Plasma, Platelets, and Red Blood Cells in a 1:1:1 vs a 1:1:2 Ratio and Mortality in Patients With Severe Trauma. The PROPPR Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA 2015;313:471(1:1:1 ratio associated with less fatal bleeding, no difference in overall mortality)
  4. Khorana et al. Blood Transfusions, Thrombosis, and Mortality in Hospitalized Patients With Cancer. Arch Intern Med 2008;168:2377(RBC and platelet transfusions associated with higher risk of venous and arterial thrombosis)
  5. Vamvakas and Blajchman. Transfusion-related mortality: the ongoing risks of allogeneic blood transfusion and the available strategies for their prevention. Blood 2009;113:3406
  6. Politis et al. Adverse reactions following transfusion of blood components, with a focus on some rare reactions: Reports to the International Haemovigilance Network Database (ISTARE) in 2012-2016. Transfus Clin Biol 2022;29:243
  7. Jelkman and Lundby. Blood doping and its detection. Blood 2011;118:2395
  8. Chapuy et al. Resolving the daratumumab interference with blood compatibility testing. Transfusion 2015;33:1545
  9. Gansner et al. Plateletpheresis-associated lymphopenia in frequent platelet donors. Blood 2019;133;605

Red Cell transfusion

  1. Carson and Brittenham. How I treat anemia with red blood cell transfusion and iron. Blood 2023;142:777
  2. Carson et al. Red blood cell transfusion: A clinical practice guideline from the AABB. Ann Intern Med 2012;157:49
  3. Reid M. Transfusion in the age of molecular diagnostics. Hematology 2009;171
  4. Goodnough et al.  Transfusion medicine.  Hematology 2004:457(variant CJD, TRALI, recombinant VIIa)
  5. Ortega et al. Transfusion of red cells. NEJM 2016;374:e12(With video)
  6. Westhoff CM. Blood group genoptyping. Blood 2019;133:1814
  7. Carson et al. Indications for and Adverse Effects of Red-Cell Transfusion. NEJM 2017;377:1261
  8. Fiorellino et al. Acute haemolysis, DIC and renal failure after transfusion of uncross-matched blood during trauma resuscitation: illustrative case and literature review. Transfus Med 2018;28:319(Acute hemolytic reactions due to unexpected antibodies occur in about 2/4000 transfusions of uncrossmatched blood)
  9. Vanderlinde et al.  Autologous transfusion. BMJ 2002;324:772
  10. Alter and Klein. The hazards of blood transfusion in historical perspective. Blood 2008;112:2617
  11. Cserti and Dzik. The ABO blood group system and Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Blood 2007;110:2250(Genetic pressure from malaria may have influenced origin and distribution of ABO types)
  12. Anstee D. The relationship between blood groups and disease. Blood 2010;115:4635
  13. Carson et al. Outcomes Using Lower vs Higher Hemoglobin Thresholds for Red Blood Cell Transfusion. JAMA 2013;309:83
  14. Carson et al. Liberal or restrictive transfusion in high-risk patients after hip surgery. NEJM 2011;365:2453(No advantage to transfusing for Hb <10 vs Hb <8 or for symptoms of anemia)
  15. Murphy et al. Liberal or Restrictive Transfusion after Cardiac Surgery. NEJM 2015;372:997(No advantage to transfusing for Hb < 7.5 vs Hb < 9 with regard to morbidity or cost; with editorial)
  16. Mazer et al. Restrictive or Liberal Red-Cell Transfusion for Cardiac Surgery. NEJM 2017;377:2133(Similar results to above study)
  17. Mazer et al. Six-Month Outcomes after Restrictive or Liberal Transfusion for Cardiac Surgery. NEJM 2018;379:1224(No advantage to liberal policy)
  18. Ducrocq et al. Effect of a Restrictive vs Liberal Blood Transfusion Strategy on Major Cardiovascular Events Among Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction and Anemia. The REALITY Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA 2021;325:552 (Modest reduction in adverse outcomes with more liberal transfusion policy)
  19. Carson et al. Restrictive or Liberal Transfusion Strategy in Myocardial Infarction and Anemia. NEJM 2023;389:2446 (Liberal strategy – Hb target 10 vs 7-8 – did not significantly reduce risk of recurrent MI within 30 d; non-significant reduction in deaths with liberal strategy; with editorial)
  20. Turgeon et al Liberal or Restrictive Transfusion Strategy in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury. NEJM 2024;391:722 (No benefit from more liberal strategy)
  21. English et al. Liberal or Restrictive Transfusion Strategy in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage. NEJM 2025;392:1079 (No benefit from more liberal strategy)
  22. Møller et al. Low vs high hemoglobin trigger for transfusion in vascular surgery: a randomized clinical feasibility trial. Blood 2019;133:2639(Suggests more restrictive transfusion policy may be harmful in this setting)
  23. Hebert et al. A multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trial of transfusion requirements in critical care. NEJM 1999;340:409
  24. Rocha et al. Comparison of three transfusion protocols prior to central venous catheterization in patients with cirrhosis: A randomized controlled trial. J Thromb Haemost 2020;18:560 (Restrictive protocol used less blood products, did not increase bleeding)
  25. Villanueva et al. Transfusion strategies for acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding. NEJM 2013; 368:11(Survival better with a restrictive transfusion strategy; with editorial)
  26. Simon et al. Outcomes of restrictive versus liberal transfusion strategies in older adults from nine randomised controlled trials: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Haematol 2017;4:e465 (Suggests a more liberal policy may benefit older patients)
  27. Roubinian et al. Long-Term Outcomes Among Patients Discharged From the Hospital With Moderate Anemia: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Ann Intern Med 2019;170:81(Safe not to transfuse patients with Hb > 7)
  28. Roubinian et al.Effect of donor, component, and recipient characteristics on hemoglobin increments following red blood cell transfusion. Blood 2019;134:1003(Average increment in Hb after 1 unit transfusion about 1 g/dL)
  29. Etchason et al. The cost effectiveness of preoperative autologous blood donations. NEJM 1995;332:719
  30. Koch et al. Duration of red-cell storage and complications after cardiac surgery. NEJM 2008;358:1229(Older blood – over 14 days in storage – associated with more complications)
  31. Marik and Sibbald. Effect of stored-blood transfusion on oxygen delivery in patients with sepsis. JAMA 1993;269:3024
  32. Lacroix et al. Age of Transfused Blood in Critically Ill Adults. NEJM 2015;372:1410(No difference in 90-day mortality with “fresh” vs standard-issue RBC)
  33. Steiner et al. Effects of Red-Cell Storage Duration on Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery. NEJM 2015;372:1419(No apparent benefit to “fresh” RBC)
  34. Alexander et al. Transfusion of fresher vs older red blood cells in hospitalized patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Blood 2016;127:400(“Current evidence provides moderate certainty that use of fresher RBCs does not influence mortality, and low certainty that it does not influence adverse events but could possibly increase infection rates”)
  35. Halmin et al. Length of Storage of Red Blood Cells and Patient Survival After Blood Transfusion: A Binational Cohort Study. Ann Int Med 2017;166:248(No association between storage duration and mortality)
  36. Caram-Deelder et al. Association of Blood Transfusion From Female Donors With and Without a History of Pregnancy With Mortality Among Male and Female Transfusion Recipients. JAMA 2017;318:1471(13% higher mortality in men receiving blood from women who had been pregnant; with editorial)
  37. Raghavan and Marik. Anemia, Allogenic Blood Transfusion, and Immunomodulation in the Critically Ill. Chest 2005;127:295
  38. Lacroix et al. Transfusion Strategies for Patients in Pediatric Intensive Care Units. NEJM 2007;356:1609(No advantage to keeping Hgb above 9.5 vs 7)
  39. Holst et al. Lower versus Higher Hemoglobin Threshold for Transfusion in Septic Shock. NEJM 2014;371:1381(No improvement in outcomes with RBC transfusion threshold of 9 grams vs 7 grams)
  40. Crew et al. Missense mutations in PIEZO1, which encodes the Piezo1 mechanosensor protein, define Er red blood cell antigens. Blood 2023;141:135 (Antibodies can cause severe hemolytic disease of newborn)

Non-infectious transfusion reactions

  1. Panch et al. Hemolytic transfusion reactions. NEJM 2019;381:150
  2. Tormey and Hendrickson. Transfusion-related red blood cell alloantibodies: induction and consequences. Blood 2019;133:1821
  3. Goel et al. Noninfectious transfusion-associated adverse events and their mitigation strategies. Blood 2019;133:1831
  4. Heddle et al. The role of the plasma from platelet concentrates in transfusion reactions. NEJM 1994;331:625
  5. Semple et al. Transfusion-associated circulatory overload and transfusion-related acute lung injury. Blood 2019;133:1840
  6. Shaz et al. Transfusion-related acute lung injjry: from bedside to bench and back. Blood 2011;117:1463
  7. Vlaar and Juffermans. Transfusion-related acute lung injury: a clinical review. Lancet 2013;382:984
  8. Greinacher et al. Characterization of the human neutrophil alloantigen-3a. Nature Med 2010;16:45(Characterization of the most important antigen responsible for TRALI)
  9. Storch et al. Spotlight on pathogenesis of TRALI: HNA-3a (CTL2) antibodies. Blood 2014;124:1868
  10. Kopko et al. Transfusion-Related Acute Lung Injury. Report of a Clinical Look-Back Investigation. JAMA 2002;287:1968(TRALI often underdiagnosed)
  11. Vlaar et al. The incidence, risk factors, and outcome of transfusion-related acute lung injury in a cohort of cardiac surgery patients: a prospective nested case-control study. Blood 2010; 117:4218(2.4% incidence, 13% mortality; HLA and neutrophil antibodies in transfused blood products most important risk factor)
  12. Toy et al. Transfusion-related acute lung injury: incidence and risk factors. Blood 2012;119:1757(Plasma from female donors 4.5 x more likely to cause TRALI)
  13. Koplovic et al. A systematic review of transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease. Blood 2015;126:406
  14. Castillo et al. Association between red blood cell transfusions and development of non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a meta-analysis of observational studies. Blood 2010;116:2897(Increased risk of NHL, particularly CLL/SLL)

Infectious complications of transfusion

  1. Busch et al. Prevention of transfusion-transmitted infections. Blood 2019;133:1854
  2. Hillyer et al. Bacterial Contamination of Blood Components: Risks, Strategies, and Regulation: Joint ASH and AABB Educational Session in Transfusion Medicine. Hematology 2003:575-589
  3. Herwaldt et al. Transfusion-associated Babesiosis in the United States: a description of cases. Ann Intern Med 2011;155:509
  4. Stramer et al.  Detection of HIV-1 and HCV Infections among Antibody-Negative Blood Donors by Nucleic Acid�Amplification Testing  NEJM 2004;351:760
  5. Pealer et al.  Transmission of West Nile virus through blood transfusion in the United States in 2002.  NEJM 2003;349:1236
  6. Hladik et al. Transmission of human herpesvirus 8 by blood transfusion.  NEJM 2006;355:1331

Fresh frozen plasma

  1. Stanworth S. The evidence-based use of FFP and cryoprecipitate for abnormalities of coagulation tests and clinical coagulopathy. Hematology 2007:179
  2. Puetz J. Fresh frozen plasma: the most commonly prescribed hemostatic agent. J Thromb Haemost 2013;11:1794(Summarizes the limited evidence for benefit from FFP infusion in coagulopathic patients)
  3. Rashidi and Tahhan. Fresh frozen plasma dosing for warfarin reversal: a practical formula. Mayo Clin Proc 2013;88:244
  4. Youssef et al. Role of Fresh Frozen Plasma Infusion in Correction of Coagulopathy of Chronic Liver Disease: A Dual Phase Study. Am J Gastroenterol 2003;98:1391(FFP in doses up to 6 U rarely corrects coagulopathy in liver disease)
  5. Jia et al. Prophylactic plasma transfusion for surgical patients with abnormal preoperative coagulation tests: a single-institution propensity-adjusted cohort study. Lancet Haematol 2016;3:e139(No evidence of benefit, higher RBC transfusion need in FFP-treated patients; with editorial)
  6. Müller et al. Fresh frozen plasma transfusion fails to influence the hemostatic balance in critically ill patients with a coagulopathy. J Thromb Haemost 2015;13:989(12 ml/kg FFP raised clotting factor levels by 10-12% but did no enhance thrombin generation in non-bleeding critically ill patients with a long INR)
  7. Sperry et al. Prehospital Plasma during Air Medical Transport in Trauma Patients at Risk for Hemorrhagic Shock. NEJM 2018;37:315(Administration of 2 units of thawed plasma lowered 30 day mortality from 33% to 23%; with editorial)

Prothrombin complex concentrate and rVIIa

  1. Roberts et al. The use of recombinant factor VIIa in the treatment of bleeding disorders. Blood 2004;104:3858
  2. Grottke et al. Thrombin Generation Capacity of Prothrombin Complex Concentrate in an In Vitro Dilutional Model. PLOS One 2013;8:e64100(Variable pro- and anti-coagulant properties of different PCCs)

Cryoprecipitate

  1. Levy and Goodnough. How I use fibrinogen replacement therapy in acquired bleeding. Blood 2015;125:1387
  2. Stanworth S. The evidence-based use of FFP and cryoprecipitate for abnormalities of coagulation tests and clinical coagulopathy. Hematology 2007:179
  3. Callum et al. Effect of Fibrinogen Concentrate vs Cryoprecipitate on Blood Component Transfusion After Cardiac SurgeryThe FIBRES Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA 2019;322:1966(Fibrinogen concentrate non-inferior to cryo)

Platelet transfusion

  1. Stanworth and Shah. How I use platelet transfusions. Blood 2022;140:1925
  2. Kaufman et al. Platelet transfusion: a clinical practice guideline from the AABB. Ann Intern Med 2015;162:205 (10K threshold for post-chemo patients, 20K prior to central line placment, 50K prior to LP or general surgery)
  3. Schiffer et al. Platelet Transfusion for Patients With Cancer: American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline Update. J Clin Oncol 2018;36:283
  4. Heddle et al. A randomized controlled trial comparing standard- and low-dose strategies for transfusion of platelets (SToP) to patients with thrombocytopenia. Blood 2009;113:1564(trial stopped early; more severe bleeding in low-dose arm)
  5. Quach et al. Mechanisms of platelet clearance and translation to improve platelet storage. Blood 2018;131:1512 (Prior pregnancy increases risk for alloimmunization; splenomegaly increases risk for refractoriness in the absence of alloimmunization)
  6. Stanworth et al. Platelet refractoriness – practical approaches and ongoing dilemmas in patient management. Br J Haematol 2015;171:297
  7. Liu et al. Differentiating patient characteristics between platelet refractory patients with and without antibodies to human leukocyte antigens. Transfusion 2024 (Epub)
  8. Slichter et al. Factors affecting posttransfusion platelet increments, platelet refractoriness, and platelet transfusion intervals in thrombocytopenic patients. Blood 2005;105:4106
  9. Lieberman et al. Platelet transfusions for critically ill patients with thrombocytopenia. Blood 2014;123:1146(Little data to support giving platelets prophylactically to non-bleeding patients)
  10. Ning et al. Platelet Transfusion Practices in the ICU. Data From a Large Transfusion Registry. Chest 2017;150:516(20% of platelet transfusions ineffectual; several risk factors for poor response identified)
  11. van Baarle et al. Platelet Transfusion before CVC Placement in Patients with Thrombocytopenia. NEJM 2023;388:1956 (Less bleeding with prophylactic platelet transfusion)
  12. Goel et al. Platelet transfusions in platelet consumptive disorders are associated with arterial thrombosis and in-hospital mortality. Blood 2015;125:1470(Platelet transfusion deleterious in TTP and HIT, not ITP)
  13. Bishop et al. Clinical factors influencing the efficacy of pooled platelet transfusion. Blood 1988; 71:383
  14. Kelly et al. The effect of variation in donor platelet function on transfusion outcome: a semirandomized controlled trial. Blood 2017;130:214(No effect of donor platelet responsiveness to agonists on post-transfusion platelet count increment)
  15. Rebulla et al. The threshold for prophylactic platelet transfusion in adults with acute myeloid leukemia. NEJM 1997;337:1870
  16. Slichter et al. Dose of prophylactic platelet transfusions and prevention of hemorrhage. NEJM 2010;362:600(Lower doses led to decreased total platelets given per patient, with no increase in bleeding)
  17. Uhl et al. Laboratory predictors of bleeding and the effect of platelet and RBC transfusions on bleeding outcomes in the PLADO trial. Blood 2017;130:1247(Plts < 5K, low Hct, prolonged INR and PTT increased bleeding risk)
  18. Stanworth et al. A No-Prophylaxis Platelet-Transfusion Strategy for Hematologic Cancers. NEJM 2013;368:1771(No prophylaxis → more bleeding)
  19. Wandt et al. Therapeutic platelet transfusion versus routine prophylactic transfusion in patients with haematological malignancies: an open-label, multicentre, randomised study. Lancet 2012;380:1309(No prophylaxis → more bleeding in AML patients but not in autologous SCT patients)
  20. Baharoglu et al. Platelet transfusion versus standard care after acute stroke due to spontaneous cerebral haemorrhage associated with antiplatelet therapy (PATCH): a randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial. Lancet 2016;387:2605(Worse outcomes with platelet transfusion in this setting; with editorial)
  21. Schiffer et al. High-dose intravenous gammaglobulin in alloimmunized platelet transfusion recipients. Blood 1984; 64:937
  22. Christie et al. Vancomycin-dependent antibodies associated with thrombocytopenia and refractoriness to platelet transfusion in patients with leukemia. Blood 1990; 75:518
  23. TRAP Study Group. Leukocyte reduction and ultraviolet B irradiation of platelets to prevent alloimmunization and refractoriness to platelet transfusions. NEJM 1997;337:1861
  24. Seftel et al.  Universal prestorage leukoreduction in Canada decreases platelet alloimmunization and refractoriness.  Blood 2004;103:333
  25. van der Meer et al. Hemostatic efficacy of pathogen-inactivated vs untreated platelets: a randomized controlled trial. Blood 2018;132:223
  26. Kogler and Stolla. There and back again: the once and current developments in donor-derived platelet products for hemostatic therapy. Blood 2022;139:3688

Granulocyte transfusion

  1. Price et al. Efficacy of transfusion with granulocytes from G-CSF/dexamethasone–treated donors in neutropenic patients with infection. Blood 2015;126:2153(No overall benefit of granulocyte transfusion found, although patients getting higher doses tended to have better outcomes)

Plasma exchange & Apheresis

  1. Schwartz et al. Guidelines on the Use of Therapeutic Apheresis in Clinical Practice—Evidence-Based Approach from the Writing Committee of the American Society for Apheresis: The Seventh Special Issue. J Clin Apheresis 2016;31:149(Lengthy, comprehensive review)

IVIG

  1. Kaveri et al. The antiinflammatory IgG. NEJM 2008;359:307(a specific fraction of IVIG has potent antiinflammatory properties)
  2. Raanani et al. Immunoglobulin Prophylaxis in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Clin Oncol 2008;27:770(No evidence of benefit)
  3. Amman et al. Intravenous immune globulin and thromboembolic adverse events in patients with hematologic malignancy. Blood 2016;127:200(3x higher risk of MI or stroke following IVIG treatment; 1% increase in absolute risk of severe thromboembolism in patients treated for a year)

Blood substitutes

  1. Natanson et al. Cell-Free Hemoglobin-Based Blood Substitutes and Risk of Myocardial Infarction and Death. A Meta-analysis. JAMA 2008;299:2304