We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us
INTEGRA BIOSCIENCES AG

Download Mobile App




Red Blood Cell Transfusion Benefits Analyzed for Trauma Patients

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 02 Jul 2014
Print article
Image: Red blood cell transfusion pack (Photo courtesy of Australian Red Cross).
Image: Red blood cell transfusion pack (Photo courtesy of Australian Red Cross).
The risks and benefits of red blood cell transfusions for patients with trauma and major bleeding might vary considerably based on a patient's predicted risk of death on arrival at a trauma center.

Trauma patients who have the highest predicted risk of death on arrival at a trauma center receive the greatest benefit from red blood cell transfusions, but for those with the lowest predicted risk of death at baseline red blood cell transfusion is associated with a higher chance of death.

Scientists at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (UK) evaluated the association between receiving red blood cell (RBC) transfusion versus not receiving a RBC transfusion with deaths by all causes at 28 days post-trauma. The findings were stratified by predicted risk of death based on clinical observations on arrival at the trauma center. The investigators included 20,127 trauma patients with significant bleeding from 274 hospitals in 40 countries in their study.

The authors found that those at greatest predicted risk of dying, greater than 50%, had a smaller chance of death from all causes if they were transfused, while for those in the 21% to 50% risk group there was no significant difference in their chance of dying based on whether they are transfused or not. Patients at a 6% to 10% chance of death had a high odd ratio (OR) of 2.31 for dying if they received a transfusion, while for those whose initial risk was below 6%, the OR for death associated with transfusion was very high at 5.40. RBC transfusion was associated with 5.1 more deaths per 100 patients in the patient group with the lowest predicted risk of death but with 11.9 fewer deaths per 100 patients in the group with the highest predicted risk of death.

The authors concluded that although RBC transfusion might be life-saving for patients with hemorrhagic shock, uncertainty remains about the best early transfusion strategy in other patients. Their study suggests that blood transfusion could be harmful for those patients whose predicted risk of death is low. However, as the study was observational, important biases cannot be ruled out, and they do not claim a causal link.

Druin Burch, MD, a consulting editor of the journal, said, “With so many dying each year, and with deaths from injury set to rise in importance as road traffic crashes and violent injuries account for a greater portion of the global burden of disease, we have a compelling reason to improve and rationalize our transfusion strategies.” The study was published on June 17, 2014, in the journal Public Library of Science Medicine.

Related Links:

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine


Platinum Member
COVID-19 Rapid Test
OSOM COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test
One Step HbA1c Measuring System
GREENCARE A1c
Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Test
GPP-100 Anti-CCP Kit
New
Gold Member
Systemic Autoimmune Testing Assay
BioPlex 2200 ANA Screen with MDSS

Print article

Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: Reaching speeds up to 6,000 RPM, this centrifuge forms the basis for a new type of inexpensive, POC biomedical test (Photo courtesy of Duke University)

POC Biomedical Test Spins Water Droplet Using Sound Waves for Cancer Detection

Exosomes, tiny cellular bioparticles carrying a specific set of proteins, lipids, and genetic materials, play a crucial role in cell communication and hold promise for non-invasive diagnostics.... Read more

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: The study showed the blood-based cancer screening test detects 83% of people with colorectal cancer with specificity of 90% (Photo courtesy of Guardant Health)

Blood Test Shows 83% Accuracy for Detecting Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is the second biggest cause of cancer deaths among adults in the U.S., with forecasts suggesting 53,010 people might die from it in 2024. While fewer older adults are dying from this... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: The new platform is designed to perform blood-based diagnoses of nontuberculosis mycobacteria (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

New Blood Test Cuts Diagnosis Time for Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Infections from Months to Hours

Breathing in nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is a common experience for many people. These bacteria are present in water systems, soil, and dust all over the world and usually don't cause any problems.... Read more

Industry

view channel
Image: These new assays are being developed for use on the recently introduced DxI 9000 Immunoassay Analyzer (Photo courtesy of Beckman Coulter)

Beckman Coulter and Fujirebio Expand Partnership on Neurodegenerative Disease Diagnostics

Beckman Coulter Diagnostics (Brea, CA, USA) and Fujirebio Diagnostics (Tokyo, Japan) have expanded their partnership focused on the development, manufacturing and clinical adoption of neurodegenerative... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.