Background:
Patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT) require variable, often extensive transfusion support. Identification of factors that predict urgent, intensive, or special needs should improve management of these patients.
Study Design and Methods:
This is a retrospective study of red blood cell (RBC) and platelet transfusion support provided for sequential matched sibling donor (MSD) allogeneic transplants conducted at the Clinical Center, NIH, from 1993-2010. Factors potentially important for predicting quantity of RBC and platelet transfusions, and time to transfusion independence through Day 200 post-HCT were evaluated.
Results:
Subjects (n=800) received 10,591 RBC and 10,199 platelet transfusions. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that need for RBC pretransplant, CD34+ dose, transplant year, diagnostic category, and ABO match were significantly independently associated with quantity of RBC transfusions Days 0-30. Only pretransplant need for RBC, CD34+ dose and transplant year had significance during Days 0-100. Similar analyses for quantity of platelet transfusions demonstrated that for both Days 0-30 and 0-100, significant factors were need for platelet support pretransplant, CD34+ dose, transplant year, and transplant regimen. Of note, long term, during Days 101-200, only CD34+ dose remained significant for quantity of RBC and of platelet transfusions. Analysis of time to transfusion independence demonstrated that patients with ABO major mismatches required longer to achieve freedom from RBC transfusion support compared to identical matches or those with minor mismatches.
Conclusion:
Patient-specific factors including CD34+ dose and ABO match of the graft should be given particular consideration by transfusion services when planning support of patients receiving allogeneic HCT.