title: Anemia, allogenic blood transfusion, and immunomodulation in the critically ill.
abstract: Anemia and allogenic RBC transfusions are exceedingly common among critically ill patients. Multiple pathologic mechanisms contribute to the genesis of anemia in these patients. Emerging risks associated with allogenic RBC transfusions including the transmission of newer infectious agents and immune modulation predisposing the patient to infections requires reevaluation of current transfusion strategies. Recent data have suggested that a restrictive transfusion practice is associated with reduced morbidity and mortality during critical illness, with the possible exception of acute coronary syndromes. In this article, we review the immune-modulatory role of allogenic RBC transfusions in critically ill patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Murugan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raghavan
authors.forename: Paul E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Marik
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D046528:Chimerism; D003422:Critical Care; D016638:Critical Illness; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000276:immunology; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D047589:Leukocyte Reduction Procedures; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D006684:HLA-DR Antigens