Can we transfuse wisely in patients undergoing chemotherapy for acute leukemia or autologous stem cell transplantation?

BACKGROUND: Transfusion of 2 units of red blood cells (RBCs) for Hb <= 80 g/L is the prevailing liberal practice for patients undergoing intensive treatment for acute leukemia or hematopoietic transplant across North America. There is little evidence regarding optimal transfusion targets in these highly transfusion-dependent patient populations. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a retrospective pre-post cohort study of consecutive patients admitted to Kingston Health Sciences Center between April through December 2016 (pre) and April through December 2017 (post) for acute leukemia induction chemotherapy or high dose chemotherapy (HDCT) for autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). The pre-cohort was transfused using a liberal threshold (2 units of RBCs for Hb <= 80 g/L) and the post-cohort using a more restrictive threshold (1 unit RBCs for Hb <= 70 g/L), implemented with a computerized physician order entry form. Primary outcome was number of RBC units transfused per inpatient day. Secondary outcomes included inpatient mortality and select morbidity measures. RESULTS: 124 patients underwent 134 treatment courses: 62 courses of induction chemotherapy (pre = 26, post = 36) and 72 courses of HDCT for ASCT (pre = 39, post = 33). There was a significant decrease in median RBC utilization per admission in both patient populations: 10.5 versus 6.7 in the leukemia group (p = 0.01) and 2.0 versus 1.0 in the ASCT group (p = 0.04). This reduction was seen without a difference in inpatient mortality, length of stay, falls, serious bleeds, requirement for ICU, or time to engraftment post ASCT. CONCLUSIONS: A restrictive transfusion strategy in patients receiving intensive chemotherapy for acute leukemia or ASCT decreased inpatient RBC usage without increasing adverse inpatient events.