title: [Anemia of prematurity: risk factors influencing red cell transfusions].
abstract: To investigate the importance of transfusion practice with packed red cells (PRCs) in premature infants and to identify risk factors significant influencing transfusion practice, we analyzed 75 preterm infants (gestational age: 31 +/- 2 weeks; birth weight: 1459 +/- 402 g) admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Catholic University of Rome. Fifty-three (70.7%) of the infants received one or more PRCs transfusions (in total 246 transfusions). The variables associated with an increase in number and frequency of PRCs transfusions were: a) gestational age < or = 30 weeks; b) birth weight < or = 1000 g; c) severe neonatal pathology (ie a respiratory disease requiring ventilatory support and/or a clearly documented or suspected sepsis). Repeated PRCs transfusions during the first week of life significantly (p < 0.01) influenced the need for late transfusions, after 4 weeks of age, for the treatment of the anemia of prematurity. These data indicate that preterm infants with a gestational age < or = 30 weeks, a birth weight < 1000 g and a severe respiratory or infectious disease represent natural candidates for administration of recombinant human erythropoietin to reduce the need for late PRCs transfusions.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Clinica Pediatrica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Zuppa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazzotta
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maragliano
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Girlando
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Florio
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tortorolo
mesh_terms: D000751:Anemia, Neonatal / Q000628:therapy*; D001724:Birth Weight; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins
vernacular_title: Anemia del pretermine: fattori di rischio che condizionano la terapia trasfusionale con emazie concentrate.