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Erythropoietin corrects anaemia and reduces the risk of blood transfusion in people with chronic kidney disease, but has uncertain effects on other patient-level outcomes
Commentary on: Cody JD, Hodson EM. Recombinant human erythropoietin versus placebo or no treatment for the anaemia of chronic kidney disease in people not requiring dialysis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2016;(1):CD003266 Context Anaemia frequency and severity worsen with advancing chronic kidney disease (CKD) and are associated with quality-of-life (QOL) impairment, morbidity and mortality.1 Deficient renal erythropoietin production is a major cause and can be corrected by recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) administration.1 This may improve clinical outcomes, including delaying dialysis. Conversely, rhEPO therapy caus...
Source: Evidence-Based Medicine - September 22, 2016 Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Johnson, D. W. Tags: Clinical trials (epidemiology), Epidemiologic studies, Haematology (incl blood transfusion), Stroke, Hypertension, Venous thromboembolism, Renal medicine Therapeutics/Prevention Source Type: research

Restrictive red blood cell transfusion strategies appear safe in most clinical settings
Commentary on: Holst LB, Petersen MW, Haase N, et al. Restrictive versus liberal transfusion strategy for red blood cell transfusion: systematic review of randomised trials with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis. BMJ 2015;350:h1354. Context Substantial progress has been made in generating data to make evidence-based recommendations for red blood cell (RBC) transfusion. Findings from clinical trials suggest that in most clinical settings, a restrictive transfusion strategy, where RBCs are transfused once haemoglobin levels fall below either 7 or 8 g/dL, does not impact mortality compared with liberal transfus...
Source: Evidence-Based Medicine - September 24, 2015 Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Roubinian, N. H., Carson, J. L. Tags: Clinical trials (epidemiology), Epidemiologic studies, Haematology (incl blood transfusion), Drugs: cardiovascular system, Stroke, Interventional cardiology, Ischaemic heart disease, Renal medicine Therapeutics/Prevention Source Type: research

Tranexamic acid reduces blood transfusion in surgical patients while its effects on thromboembolic events and mortality are uncertain
Commentary on: Ker K, Edwards P, Perel P, et al.. Effect of tranexamic acid on surgical bleeding: systematic review and cumulative meta-analysis. BMJ 2012;344:e3054. Context Surgical trauma leads to the activation of local fibrinolysis, and surgical bleeding can be significant in certain types of surgery leading to acute anaemia and the need for blood transfusion. Clinical trends have led to reductions in acceptable haemoglobin transfusion thresholds. However, growing evidence from clinical and experimental studies suggests that acute haemodilutional anaemia may reduce tissue oxygen delivery and increase perioperative morb...
Source: Evidence-Based Medicine - March 19, 2013 Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Raveendran, R., Wong, J. Tags: Clinical trials (epidemiology), Epidemiologic studies, Haematology (incl blood transfusion), Drugs: cardiovascular system, Stroke, Interventional cardiology, Ischaemic heart disease, Venous thromboembolism, Pulmonary embolism Therapeutics Source Type: research