Transfusion of modified blood components for the treatment of autoimmune hemolytic anemia: A network meta-analysis

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of transfusing leukoreduced red blood cells (LRBCs) and/or washed RBCs (WRBCs) in treating adult patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Materials & methods: Randomized control trials were included. Outcomes were response incidence, hematological parameters (HPs) and adverse event (AE) incidence. Results: 16 randomized control trials (n = 1061) were included. LRBC+WRBC yielded increased response incidence and improvements in HP compared with suspended RBCs (SRBCs). WRBCs improved HP while LRBCs only improved RBC count and total bilirubin. LRBCs and WRBCs both reduce AE incidences compared with SRBCs. Conclusion: Modified blood components may achieve increased response incidence and/or HP, as well as decreased AE compared with SRBCs.