Furosemide Supplemented Blood Transfusion in Cases of Chronic Severe Anemia

Abstract

Pulmonary capillary ‘ wedge ’ pressures (PGWP) were measured in 20 adult cases of chronic severe anemia (CSA) before and after transfusion of 700 ml of whole blood at a rate of 5 ml/min. The cases were randomly divided into 2 groups of 10 cases each. Group II also received 40 mg of furosemide immediately before the start of transfusion. The majority of the cases had hemoglobin values <4g% and serum albumin values <2.5 g%. Pretransfusion intracardiac pressures were normal in all the cases. Following blood transfusion (BT), appreciable rises (p<0.001) in hemoglobin and arterial and venous oxygen saturation were observed. PCWP increased significantly after BT in Group I (p< 0.001). Although it decreased by 3.75% in Group II, this was not statistically significant (p>0.05). This study implies that a blood transfusion of 700 ml, given at a speed of 5 ml/min in patients with CSA, results in sufficient hemodynamic stress to cause a significant rise in PGWP, and that this is completely prevented by simultaneous administration of 40 mg of furosemide. © 1986, International Heart Journal Association. All rights reserved.