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Neurocognitive profiles of preterm infants randomly assigned to lower or higher hematocrit thresholds for transfusion
Journal article   Open access

Neurocognitive profiles of preterm infants randomly assigned to lower or higher hematocrit thresholds for transfusion

Thomasin E McCoy, Amy L Conrad, Lynn C Richman, Scott D Lindgren, Peg C Nopoulos and Edward F Bell
Child neuropsychology, Vol.17(4), pp.347-367
07/01/2011
DOI: 10.1080/09297049.2010.544647
PMCID: PMC3115491
PMID: 21360360
url
https://doi.org/10.1080/09297049.2010.544647View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Objective: Preterm infants are frequently transfused with red blood cells based on standardized guidelines or clinical concerns that anemia taxes infants' physiological compensatory mechanisms and thereby threatens their health and well-being. The impact of various transfusion guidelines on long-term neurocognitive outcome is not known. The purpose of this study is to evaluate long-term neurocognitive outcome on children born prematurely and treated at birth with different transfusion guidelines. Methods: Neurocognitive outcomes were examined at school age for 56 preterm infants randomly assigned to a liberal (n = 33) or restrictive (n = 23) transfusion strategy. Tests of intelligence, achievement, language, visual-spatial/motor, and memory skills were administered. Between-group differences were assessed. Results: Those in the liberal transfusion group performed more poorly than those in the restrictive group on measures of associative verbal fluency, visual memory, and reading. Conclusions: Findings highlight possible long-term neurodevelopmental consequences of maintaining higher hematocrit levels.
Red blood cell transfusion Longitudinal Neuropsychology Hematocrit Preterm

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