Transfusion After MI Boosts Mortality Risk
By Charles Bankhead, Staff Writer, MedPage Today
Published: December 26, 2012. Reviewed by Zalman S. Agus, MD. Emeritus Professor, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
By Charles Bankhead, Staff Writer, MedPage Today
Published: December 26, 2012. Reviewed by Zalman S. Agus, MD. Emeritus Professor, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
"Action Points:
- In this meta-analysis, blood transfusion or a liberal blood transfusion strategy compared with no blood transfusion or a restricted blood transfusion strategy in patients with an acute myocardial infarction was associated with significantly higher all-cause mortality rates.
- Note that blood transfusion was also significantly associated with a higher risk for subsequent myocardial infarction."
..."Because of its many limitations, as physicians we should not use the results of this review to justify or limit the use of red blood cells. For researchers and decision makers, we can now appreciate how little reliable information is available to inform clinical and policy decisions involving red blood cell transfusions in patients with acute coronary syndrome.
"Given that real risks and potential benefits exist as to how we choose to use the valuable resource of blood transfusion, we believe that high-quality research is long overdue."
Primary source: Archives of Internal Medicine
Source reference: Chatterjee S, et al "Association of blood transfusion with increased mortality in myocardial infarction. A meta-analysis and diversity-adjusted study sequential analysis" Arch Intern Med 2012; DOI:10.1001/2013.jamainterenmed.1001.
Additional source: Archives of Internal Medicine
Source reference: Carson JL, Hébert PC "Here we go again -- Blood transfusion kills patients?" Arch Intern Med 2012; DOI: 10.1001/jamaintnernmed.2013.2855.