No Benefit to Using Fresh RBCs in Dogs with Existing Hemolysis

CHF Grant 1988: Identification of a Safe Storage Time for Canine Blood Used in the Treatment of Anemia

Publication:
Callan, M. B., Thawley, V. J., Marryott, K. A., Shabro, A., Fernando, S., Kahn, S., Hudson, K. E., & Hod, E. A. (2021). Hemolytic anemia blunts the cytokine response to transfusion of older red blood cells in mice and dogs. Transfusion. https://doi.org/10.1111/trf.16690

What can we learn?
Investigators conducted a prospective, randomized, blinded trial of 38 client-owned dogs with primary autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) and two dogs with immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (ITP) to assess whether transfusion of older red blood cells (RBCs) negatively impacts survival. While markers of hemolysis did increase following transfusion with older RBCs (stored > 21 days), there were no differences in morbidity or mortality between dogs randomized to receive fresh or old RBCs.

Conclusion:
There is no apparent benefit to using fresh RBC transfusions in dogs with underlying, baseline hemolysis.