Do Blood Transfusions During Myocardial Infarction Help or Harm?

In a meta-analysis, liberal transfusion strategies were associated with a significant increase in risk for both mortality and reinfarction.

Although the temptation to employ blood transfusions in patients with marked anemia during acute coronary syndromes is understandable, supporting evidence is equivocal at best. Transfusion presumably increases blood oxygen-carrying capacity, thus potentially alleviating myocardial ischemia; however, it might also result in volume overload or induce hypercoagulability.

These investigators conducted a meta-analysis of 10 studies — involving 203,665 patients — comparing blood transfusion with no blood transfusion or a liberal transfusion approach with a restrictive approach. Only one randomized controlled trial was included; the other studies were observational. Transfusion was associated with significantly increased risks for death from all ca…

Reviewing Author

Frederick A. Masoudi, MD, MSPH, FACC, FAHA

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBristol Myers Squibb; CPC Clinical Research

Grant/Research SupportNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Editorial BoardsUpToDate; American College of Cardiology Self-Assessment Program (SAP)

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican College of Cardiology (Chair, Innovations Committee)

Frederick A. Masoudi, MD, MSPH, FACC, FAHA

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBristol Myers Squibb; CPC Clinical Research

Grant/Research SupportNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Editorial BoardsUpToDate; American College of Cardiology Self-Assessment Program (SAP)

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican College of Cardiology (Chair, Innovations Committee)