Journal Club: Randomized trial of platelet-transfusion thresholds in neonates

Presented by:

Valérie Arsenault
Transfusion Medicine Physician Trainee
University of Toronto

Objectives:

1.  Discuss the causes of thrombocytopenia in neonates.
2.  Review the previous studies on platelet transfusions in neonates.
3.  Critically appraise the recently published randomized controlled trial of platelet-transfusion thresholds in neonates.

References:

1.  Curley A et al.  Randomized Trial of Platelet-Transfusion Thresholds in Neonates. NEJM 2018; 380(3):242-251, 2019.
2.   Andrew M et al.  A randomized, controlled trial of platelet transfusions in thrombocytopenic premature infants. J Pediatr 1993; 123: 285-91.
3.  Josephson CD et al.  Platelet Transfusion Practices Among Neonatologists in the United States and Canada: Results of a Survey.  Pediatrics, 2009, Volume 123, Issue 1.
4.  Stanworth SJ et al.  Prospective, observational study of outcomes in neonates with severe thrombocytopenia. Pediatrics 2009; 124(5): e826-e834.
5.  Cremer M et al.  Platelet transfusions in neonates: practices in the United States vary significantly from those in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Transfusion. 2011 Dec;51(12):2634-41.
6.  Sparger KA et al.  Platelet transfusion practices among very-low-birth-weight infants. JAMA Pediatr. 2016;170(7):687-694.

Note: The session is a self-approved group learning activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification program of The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

To register for the LearnTransfusion series, send an email to learn.transfusion@blood.ca with  “Weekly Transfusion Medicine Seminars” in the subject line. Include your name and complete e-mail address in the body of the e-mail, and confirm that you would like to register for the LearnTransfusion series. You will then receive weekly email notifications of upcoming series events with details on how to join the webinars (e.g., call-in number and a link to register for the webinar).

The LearnTransfusion series is the seminar component of the Areas of Focused Competency (AFC)-Diploma Program in Transfusion Medicine. The series, organized by Canadian Blood Services is also open to all practitioners in the field of Transfusion Medicine. Through a series of regular webinars, trainees and practitioners are exposed to various scientific, technical and clinical aspects of transfusion medicine.