Platelet and red cell transfusions for neonates: lifesavers or Trojan horses?

Platelet transfusions in neonates: questions and answers.

Two key questions can be raised about platelet transfusions (PTXs) for neonates (defined for this editorial as preterm infants during the first month following delivery). First, do sound evidence-based guidelines exist to decide when PTX should be given? The short answer is “no”. Second, when a PTX is prescribed, do we know how to select and transfuse the best available platelet product? Fortun...

Thrombocytopenia, bleeding, and use of platelet transfusions in sick neonates.

Survival rates for infants born prematurely have improved significantly, in part due to better supportive care such as RBC transfusion. The role of platelet transfusions in neonates is more controversial. Neonatal thrombocytopenia is common in premature infants. The primary causal factors are intrauterine growth restriction/maternal hypertension, in which the infant presents with thrombocytopen...

Red cell transfusions for polytransfused patients.

Patients with chronic anemia tolerate much lower levels of hemoglobin than those experiencing acute blood loss or acute hemolysis. The compensating mechanism is the increase of red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG), causing increased release of oxygen to the tissues. For this and further clinical and epidemiologic reasons, it is unnecessary to transfuse patients with chronic anemia unless sympt...

Tyrosine-phosphorylated Bacterial Proteins: Trojan Horses for the Host Cell

Referral management centres: promising innovations or Trojan horses?