Transfusion therapy (Sickle-cell disease) Transfusion therapy (Sickle-cell disease) Red blood cells (erythrocytes) from donors contain normal hemoglobin (HbA), and transfusion of normal red blood cells into people with sickle cell disease reduces the percentage of red cells in the circulation containing the abnormal hemoglobin (HbS). Although transfusion of donor red blood cells can ameliorate and even prevent complications of sickle cell disease in certain circumstances, transfusion therapy is not universally beneficial in sickle cell disease. There are two main types of transfusion, simple red cell transfusion and exchange transfusion. Involves transfusing red blood cells without removing any of the patient’s blood. Exchange transfusion involves
Neonatal red cell transfusion Neonatal red cell transfusion Neonates are defined as babies up to 28 days after birth. Most extremely preterm babies (less than 28 weeks) require at least one red cell transfusion, this is partly due to the amount of blood removed with blood samples compared to the baby's total blood volume (iatrogenic anemia) and partly due to anemia of prematurity. Most transfusions are given as small volume top-up transfusions to increase the baby's hemoglobin above a certain pre-defined level, or because the baby is unwell due to the anemia. Possible side-effects of anemia in babies can be poor growth, lethargy and