A multicenter pilot-randomized controlled trial of the feasibility of an augmented red blood cell transfusion strategy for patients treated with induction chemotherapy for acute leukemia or stem cell transplantation. [Acute anemia in high digestive hemorrhage. Margins of security for their handling without transfusion of red globules]. Effect of early blood transfusion on gastrointestinal haemorrhage.
Anemia may be an important factor contributing to an increased risk of bleeding, particularly in patients with thrombocytopenia.
                A multicenter, single-blinded pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) was performed to evaluate the feasibility of conducting a larger RCT to determine the effect of the hemoglobin (Hb) concentration on bleeding risk. Patients with acute leukemia receiving induction chemotherapy or those undergoing stem cell transplantation were assigned to one of two treatment groups: standard transfusion strategy (transfusion of 2 units of red blood cells [RBCs] when their Hb level was less than 80 g/L) or an augmented transfusion strategy (transfusion of 2 units of RBCs when their Hb level was less than 120 g/L).
                Sixty patients were enrolled: 29 in the control group and 31 in the experimental group. The proportions of patients experiencing clinically significant bleeding and the time to first bleed were not significantly different between the control and experimental groups. The experimental group received more RBC transfusions (transfusions/patient-day) than the control group (0.233 vs. 0.151; relative risk, 1.56; 95% confidence interval, 1.16-2.10; p = 0.003). The proportion of patient-days with platelet (PLT) transfusions was not different between the experimental and control groups. The mean number of donor exposures (PLT and RBC transfusions) was not different between experimental and control groups. Bleeding symptoms were systematically documented.
                This pilot study thus indicated that it would be feasible to enroll the required number of patients to enable the performance of a large RCT to investigate the effect of Hb on bleeding risk in thrombocytopenic patients. Red cells transfusion in the patient with acute hemorrhage, must be evaluated in a risk/benefit rate context. The present tendencies appoint that the use of the hematocrit "magic" number is unsafe and uncertain to decide a red cell transfusion. We have conducted a prospective randomized and controlled trial in 60 patients with acute digestive hemorrhage without haemodynamic failure. We realized two groups: 1) control group: the target of transfusion in these patients was the hematocrit value of > or = 28%. 2) treatment group: these patients were supported with normovolemic haemodilution with crystalloid solutions until a hematocrit value of 21%. All patients have endoscopic diagnosis and they went evaluated across the study with clinic and laboratory controls. Both groups were significative differences in the hematocrit value. We did not see differences between the groups in the hospital stay neither the rate of organs failure. We find difference between the groups in the amount of red cell units (0.61 +/- 0.87 vs. 2.14 +/- 1.10; treatment and control respectively, P < 0.001). The APACHE score was greater in the treatment group. This supports that the oldest patients, who probably have least physiologic reserve, could be treated without complications. Acute hemorrhage-normovolemic haemodilution-digestive hemorrhage transfusion. The effect of citrated stored blood on coagulation was studied initially in a pilot study where 25 patients with acute severe gastrointestinal haemorrhage had their whole blood coagulation measured using the Biobridge Impedance Clotting Time (ICT). This demonstrated that there is a hypercoagulable response to haemorrhage which was partially reversed by blood transfusion. Similar changes were noted in Kaolin Cephalin Clotting Times (KCCT). A further 50 patients were then randomized to receive, during the 24 h after admission, either at least 2 units of blood or no blood transfusion unless the haemoglobin fell below 8 g/dl or they were shocked. In the transfused group nine patients re-bled compared with only one in the non-transfused group (P less than 0.01, chi 2 with Yates' correction). Early blood transfusion appears to reverse the hypercoagulable response to haemorrhage thereby encouraging re-bleeding and hence the need for an operation.
There were more deaths and more rebleeding in the transfusion arms of the combined studies, but the small numbers of participants and large volume of missing data limit the significance of the findings. The studies in this review do not provide useful data regarding outcomes following red blood cell transfusion for acute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage. They appear to exclude large survival benefit. Large, well-concealed RCTs of sufficient power are urgently needed.