Whole blood versus red cell concentrates for children with severe anaemia: a secondary analysis of the Transfusion and Treatment of African Children (TRACT) trial

George, Elizabeth C., Uyoga, Sophie, M’baya, Bridon, Kyeyune Byabazair, Dorothy, Kiguli, Sarah, Olupot-Olupot, Peter, Opoka, Robert O., Chagaluka, George, Alaroker, Florence, Williams, Thomas N., Bates, Imelda ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0862-8199, Mbanya, Dora, Gibb, Diana M, Walker, Sarah and Maitland, Kathryn (2022) 'Whole blood versus red cell concentrates for children with severe anaemia: a secondary analysis of the Transfusion and Treatment of African Children (TRACT) trial'. Lancet Global Health, Vol 10, Issue 3, e360-3e368.

	Text WholeBloodVRCC-accepted30thNov21.pdf - Accepted Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (935kB)
	Text R2Supplemental File_Blood packs analysis30Nov21.docx - Supplemental Material Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (273kB)
Preview	Text Lancet_Glob_Health_10_e360-68_2022.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (573kB) | Preview

Abstract

Background

The TRACT trial established the timing of transfusion in children with uncomplicated anaemia (haemoglobin 4–6 g/dL) and the optimal volume (20 vs 30 mL/kg whole blood or 10 vs 15 mL/kg red cell concentrates) for transfusion in children admitted to hospital with severe anaemia (haemoglobin <6 g/dL) on day 28 mortality (primary endpoint). Because data on the safety of blood components are scarce, we conducted a secondary analysis to examine the safety and efficacy of different pack types (whole blood vs red cell concentrates) on clinical outcomes.

Methods

This study is a secondary analysis of the TRACT trial data restricted to those who received an immediate transfusion (using whole blood or red cell concentrates). TRACT was an open-label, multicentre, factorial, randomised trial conducted in three hospitals in Uganda (Soroti, Mbale, and Mulago) and one hospital in Malawi (Blantyre). The trial enrolled children aged between 2 months and 12 years admitted to hospital with severe anaemia (haemoglobin <6 g/dL). The pack type used (supplied by blood banks) was based only on availability at the time. The outcomes were haemoglobin recovery at 8 h and 180 days, requirement for retransfusion, length of hospital stay, changes in heart and respiratory rates until day 180, and the main clinical endpoints (mortality until day 28 and day 180, and readmission until day 180), measured using multivariate regression models.

Findings

Between Sept 17, 2014, and May 15, 2017, 3199 children with severe anaemia were enrolled into the TRACT trial. 3188 children were considered in our secondary analysis. The median age was 37 months (IQR 18–64). Whole blood was the first pack provided for 1632 (41%) of 3992 transfusions. Haemoglobin recovery at 8 h was significantly lower in those who received packed cells or settled cells than those who received whole blood, with a mean of 1·4 g/dL (95% CI –1·6 to –1·1) in children who received 30 mL/kg and –1·3 g/dL (–1·5 to –1·0) in those who received 20 mL/kg packed cells versus whole blood, and –1·5 g/dL (–1·7 to –1·3) in those who received 30 mL/kg and –1·0 g/dL (–1·2 to –0·9) in those who received 20 mL/kg settled cells versus whole blood (overall p<0·0001). Compared to whole blood, children who received blood as packed or settled cells in their first transfusion had higher odds of receiving a second transfusion (odds ratio 2·32 [95% CI 1·30 to 4·12] for packed cells and 2·97 [2·18 to 4·05] for settled cells; p<0·001) and longer hospital stays (hazard ratio 0·94 [95% CI 0·81 to 1·10] for packed cells and 0·86 [0·79 to 0·94] for settled cells; p=0·0024). There was no association between the type of blood supplied for the first transfusion and mortality at 28 days or 180 days, or readmission to hospital for any cause. 823 (26%) of 3188 children presented with severe tachycardia and 2077 (65%) with tachypnoea, but these complications resolved over time. No child developed features of confirmed cardiopulmonary overload.

Interpretation

Our study suggests that the use of packed or settled cells rather than whole blood leads to additional transfusions, increasing the use of a scarce resource in most of sub-Saharan Africa. These findings have substantial cost implications for blood transfusion and health services. Nevertheless, a clinical trial comparing whole blood transfusion with red cell concentrates might be needed to inform policy makers.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	WB Practice of Medicine > Therapeutics > WB 356 Blood transfusion WH Hemic and Lymphatic Systems > Hematologic Diseases. Immunologic Factors. Blood Banks > WH 155 Anemia WH Hemic and Lymphatic Systems > Hematologic Diseases. Immunologic Factors. Blood Banks > WH 450 Whole blood. Blood derivatives. Plasma substitutes. Blood expanders WS Pediatrics > Diseases of Children and Adolescents > By System > WS 300 Hemic and lymphatic system
Faculty: Department:	Clinical Sciences & International Health > International Public Health Department
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(21)00565-9
Depositing User:	Rachel Dominguez
Date Deposited:	21 Feb 2022 11:51
Last Modified:	14 Jun 2023 13:25
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/19559

Statistics

View details

Actions (login required)

Edit Item