The effect of transfusion on cardiac function in patients with chronic anemia.
BACKGROUND
The deteriorating cardiac function of patients with chronic anemia may be improved with transfusion. The effect of transfusion on cardiac function was evaluated in patients with chronic anemia.


METHODS
In a prospective study, ejection fraction (EF) was determined before and after transfusion in 41 patients with chronic anemia. The results were compared and analyzed.


RESULTS
The volume of red cells transfused and the levels of pretransfusion hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red cell, white cell, and platelet counts did not affect the posttransfusion EF, whereas the pretransfusion EF of the right or left ventricle inversely affected the posttransfusion change in EF in the respective ventricle (p < 0.001 and r = -0.5022; p = 0.01 and -0.3917, respectively). There was no significant difference in the change in EF in the right and left ventricles.


CONCLUSIONS
Transfusion produced little immediate effect on cardiac function, but did change the EF to an extent that aided cardiac function in chronic anemia patients. The pretransfusion EF itself, but not the degree of anemia or volume of red cells transfused, affected the posttransfusion change in EF.
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Division of Hematology, Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000628:therapy*; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013318:Stroke Volume; D013997:Time Factors