title: Chronic transfusion practice for children with sickle cell anaemia and stroke.
abstract: Chronic transfusions to maintain haemoglobin S (HbS) < or =30% are the mainstay of treatment for children with sickle cell anaemia (SCA) and previous stroke. This HbS target is often hard to maintain, however, and values achieved in current practice are unknown. In preparation for the Phase III Stroke With Transfusions Changing to Hydroxyurea (SWiTCH) trial, we collected data on 295 children with SCA and stroke who received transfusions at 23 institutions. The overall average pre-transfusion %HbS was 35 +/- 11% (institutional range 22-51%). Receiving scheduled transfusions on time was the most predictive variable for maintaining HbS at the < or =30% goal.
authors.affiliation: St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105-3678, USA. banu.aygun@stjude.org
authors.forename: Banu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aygun
authors.forename: Marsha A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: McMurray
authors.forename: William H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Schultz
authors.forename: Janet L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kwiatkowski
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hilliard
authors.forename: Ofelia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heeney
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kalinyak
authors.forename: Margaret T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Ronald W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Helms
authors.forename: Russell E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Ware