Liberal versus restrictive transfusion thresholds for patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease

Am Heart J. 2013 Jun;165(6):964-971.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2013.03.001. Epub 2013 Apr 8.

Abstract

Background: Prior trials suggest it is safe to defer transfusion at hemoglobin levels above 7 to 8 g/dL in most patients. Patients with acute coronary syndrome may benefit from higher hemoglobin levels.

Methods: We performed a pilot trial in 110 patients with acute coronary syndrome or stable angina undergoing cardiac catheterization and a hemoglobin <10 g/dL. Patients in the liberal transfusion strategy received one or more units of blood to raise the hemoglobin level ≥10 g/dL. Patients in the restrictive transfusion strategy were permitted to receive blood for symptoms from anemia or for a hemoglobin <8 g/dL. The predefined primary outcome was the composite of death, myocardial infarction, or unscheduled revascularization 30 days post randomization.

Results: Baseline characteristics were similar between groups except age (liberal, 67.3; restrictive, 74.3). The mean number of units transfused was 1.6 in the liberal group and 0.6 in the restrictive group. The primary outcome occurred in 6 patients (10.9%) in the liberal group and 14 (25.5%) in the restrictive group (risk difference = 15.0%; 95% confidence interval of difference 0.7% to 29.3%; P = .054 and adjusted for age P = .076). Death at 30 days was less frequent in liberal group (n = 1, 1.8%) compared to restrictive group (n = 7, 13.0%; P = .032).

Conclusions: The liberal transfusion strategy was associated with a trend for fewer major cardiac events and deaths than a more restrictive strategy. These results support the feasibility of and the need for a definitive trial.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01167582.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Blood Transfusion / methods*
  • Cardiac Catheterization
  • Coronary Artery Disease / blood
  • Coronary Artery Disease / diagnosis
  • Coronary Artery Disease / therapy*
  • Death, Sudden, Cardiac / epidemiology
  • Death, Sudden, Cardiac / prevention & control
  • Decision Making*
  • Electrocardiography
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Hemoglobins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Pilot Projects
  • Prognosis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Survival Rate / trends
  • United States / epidemiology

Substances

  • Hemoglobins

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01167582