Effect of blood transfusions on oxidative stress in preterm infants.
OBJECTIVE
To confirm the increase in non-transferrin bound iron (NTBI) after packed red cell (PRC) transfusion and to evaluate the association with increased oxidative stress in preterm infants.


METHODS
Twenty healthy preterm infants (gestational age 28.2 (2.2) weeks; birth weight 1047 (230) g), who required blood transfusion for anaemia of prematurity were prospectively studied. Serum concentrations of NTBI, total hydroperoxides (TH), and protein SH groups, and plasma total radical trapping antioxidant capability (TAC) were measured within three hours before and after PRC transfusion. The infants were transfused with 38.6 (23) ml PRCs over 5.8 (1.0) hours, at a mean age of 43.3 (25.1) days.


RESULTS
After PRC transfusion, haemoglobin concentration increased from 9.2 (1.1) to 14.6 (1.5) g/l. Mean plasma NTBI concentration after transfusion was significantly higher (0.43 (0.45) v 2.03 (1.31) micromol/l; p = 0.001), while plasma concentrations of TH (212.3 (42.2) v 214.7 (66.3) Carr units/l) and protein SH groups (317.5 (38.8) v 353.8 (57.4) micromol/), and TAC (256.3 (36.1) v 267.1 (42.4) micromol HClO/ml) remained unchanged.


CONCLUSIONS
For three hours after PRC transfusion, plasma NTBI is significantly increased in preterm infants, but this is not associated with significant changes in oxidative stress.
Division of Neonatology, Careggi University Hospital, University of Florence School of Medicine, Viale Morgagni, 85 Firenze, Italy. cdani@.unifi.It
C
C
Dani
E
E
Martelli
G
G
Bertini
M
M
Pezzati
M
M
Rossetti
G
G
Buonocore
P
P
Paffetti
F F
FF
Rubaltelli
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000097:blood; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000097:blood; D014168:Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism
D000975:Antioxidants; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D014168:Transferrin; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D007501:Iron