Original article

Vol. 21 No. 6 (2023): Blood Transfusion 6-2023 (November-December)

A pilot randomized study for optimal red cell transfusion in acute myeloid leukemia patients with intensive chemotherapy

Authors

Key words: red blood cell, transfusion, acute myeloid leukemia, chemotherapy
Publication Date: 2023-05-22

Abstract

Background - Although blood transfusion is fundamental throughout the course of hematologic malignancies, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients requiring intensive chemotherapy are left at the edges of patient blood management programs because current guidelines do not have established recommendations for red blood cell (RBC) transfusion threshold in patients treated for hematological disorders with anemia and accompanied severe thrombocytopenia. To provide answers for the trigger and doses of ideal RBC transfusion in such situation, we conducted this prospective randomized trial.
Materials and methods - Newly diagnosed non-acute promyelocytic AML patients undergoing chemotherapy were considered eligible for enrollment. Patients were randomized into 4 groups using a 2 by 2 factorial design, according to the RBC transfusion trigger (hemoglobin [Hb], 7 vs 8 g/dL) and the number of units per transfusion episode (quantity, single vs double-unit).
Results - Initially 91 patients were randomized into 4 groups, but the protocol adherence rate was 90.1%. Hb trigger did not affect the amount of RBC transfusion required during treatment. Patients receiving RBC transfusion at Hb <7 g/dL used a median of 4 units of RBC (range 0-12), and those receiving transfusion at Hb <8 g/dL also used a median of 4 units of RBC (range 0-24) (p=0.305). The number of RBC units per transfusion did not affect the total amount of RBC transfusion required during treatment. AML treatment outcomes and bleeding events did not differ across the 4 groups.
Discussion - This study demonstrated the feasibility for restrictive RBC transfusion (Hb <7 g/dL, RBC 1 unit) in AML patients undergoing chemotherapy, regardless of chemotherapy intensity.

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Authors

Ja Min Byun - Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Center for Medical Innovation, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Woochan Park - Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Dong-Yeop Shin - Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Center for Medical Innovation, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Youngil Koh - Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Center for Medical Innovation, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Inho Kim - Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Sung-Soo Yoon - Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Center for Medical Innovation, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Jae Hyeon Park - Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Hyungsuk Kim - Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Junshik Hong - Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Center for Medical Innovation, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea

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