Transfusion Medicine
News from the FDA/CDC
FDA approves anemia treatment for transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia patients
Luspatercept-aamt (Reblozyl) is approved for adults with beta thalassemia who require regular red blood cell transfusions.
Conference Coverage
Best practice alerts really can work
SAN ANTONIO – A majority of alerts triggered by red blood cell orders were overridden, but for sound clinical reasons, investigators found.
Conference Coverage
Fresh RBCs offer no benefit over older cells in pediatric ICU
SAN ANTONIO – Exposure to fresh red cells may be associated with immune suppression because viable white cells may also be present in the product...
Conference Coverage
ART traces in donor samples show risk to blood supply
Metabolites of drugs used in HIV infection prophylaxis were found in a small proportion of blood samples from HIV-negative donors.
From the Journals
Global blood supply runs low
Worldwide, more than 60% of countries had an inadequate supply of blood to meet the demand for transfusion.
From the Journals
Mitapivat elicits positive response in pyruvate kinase deficiency
The safety data from this phase 2 study suggest that mitapivat could be administered long term for patients with pyruvate kinase deficiency.
Guidelines
New transfusion guidelines for thalassemia
Experts discussed recommendations for alpha and beta thalassemia as well as non–transfusion dependent thalassemia.
From the Journals
Preeclampsia doubles risk of postpartum transfusion reactions
The findings suggest that heightened attention should be paid when women with preeclampsia are evaluated for blood transfusions post partum.
From the Journals
Timing, volume of transfusion may not matter in children with severe anemia
The TRACT trial showed no significant differences in 28-day mortality or other clinical outcomes by transfusion timing or volume.
Conference Coverage
Durable transfusion independence in MDS with imetelstat
AMSTERDAM – The telomerase inhibitor may also have disease-modifying properties, investigators suspect.
From the Journals
Past donor pregnancy, sex do not affect transfusion-related mortality
A retrospective analysis of more than 1 million red blood cell transfusion recipients found that there was no significant increase in mortality...