A Retrospective Assessment of Prevention and Treatment of Iron Deficiency Amongst Patients Requiring Peripartum Transfusion

This study is a retrospective quality review of all cases of peripartum transfusion at an academic centre caring for high risk pregnancies from January 2013 to July 2018. All women admitted to the Labor and Delivery ward who received a red blood cell transfusion were identified through electronic blood bank database. We also identified the next age-matched woman to deliver who was not transfused. Charts were reviewed for risk factors for iron deficiency, evidence of prior iron deficiency, iron supplementation during pregnancy and fetal outcomes such as birth weight, gestational age at delivery, NICU admission and fetal mortality. A detailed transfusion history was recorded for women who received peripartum transfusions, including peritransfusion hemoglobins and indication for transfusion. Results: To date, 120 cases of peripartum red blood cell transfusion have been reviewed. Of these, 19 patients were excluded due to chronic anemia unrelated to iron deficiency or pregnancy (e.g., chronic renal failure). Age matched controls have been identified and are pending review. Preliminary data suggests that the majority of red cell transfusions given in the peripartum period are to women experiencing antepartum (26%) and/or postpartum (63%) hemorrhage. Thirty seven percent of women who were transfused had documented anemia in pregnancy and 51% of women were iron deficient in pregnancy (ferritin <30 ng/mL). Twenty one percent of women in the transfused group were noted to have pre-...

Source: Blood - November 21, 2018 Category: Hematology Authors: Vandermeulen, H., Lin, Y., McLeod, A., Barrett, J., Sholzberg, M., Callum, J. Tags: 401. Basic Science and Clinical Practice in Blood Transfusion: Poster I Source Type: research