Transfusion Evidence Round-Up

International Thalassaemia Day
8th May 2022

Welcome to the quarterly Transfusion Evidence Round-Up. This is a collaboration between the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) and the Transfusion Evidence Library (TEL).  We aim to highlight high quality evidence randomised controlled trials and systematic reviews about an internationally relevant subject in the field of Transfusion Medicine.  All references are drawn from the Transfusion Evidence Library and, where relevant, Stem Cell Evidence.

This Transfusion Evidence Round-Up is sent to ISBT members and TEL subscribers, so if you are a subscriber to both mailing lists and receive it twice please bear with us until we can resolve this.

The Transfusion Evidence Library is produced by the Systematic Review Initiative (SRI) and funded by the four UK blood services. It is available free at the point of access providing a comprehensive and up-to-date database of high quality evidence in Transfusion Medicine.

The International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) is a scientific society creating a community of transfusion medicine professionals from around the globe. ISBT works towards its vision of "a world of safe and sufficient blood" by undertaking advocacy for patient and donor safety, sharing knowledge to enhance transfusion practice and providing opportunities for education.

Ten articles are highlighted to bring attention to this year’s International Thalassaemia Day.

These articles have been identified from the Transfusion Evidence Library and selected by ISBT members: Dr. Sheetal Malhotra, Dr. Laura Infanti, and Dr. Catarina Jacinto Correia. For further information see ISBT Resources.

Top Article

Impact of Red Blood Cell Antigen Matching on Alloimmunization and Transfusion Complications in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease: A Systematic Review.
Fasano, R.M., et al. (2018). Transfusion Medicine Reviews.
PICO SUMMARY

Selected Articles

The effect of iron chelation therapy on overall survival in sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia: a systematic review.
Ballas, S.K, et al. (2018). American Journal of Hematology.

Systematic literature review of the burden of disease and treatment for transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia.
Betts, M., et al. (2019). Clinical Therapeutics.

A Phase 3 Trial of Luspatercept in Patients with Transfusion-Dependent beta-Thalassemia.
Cappellini, M.D., et al. (2020). New England Journal of Medicine.

Red blood cell transfusion to treat or prevent complications in sickle cell disease: an overview of Cochrane reviews.
Fortin, P.M., Hopewell, S., and Estcourt, L.J., (2018). The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 

Red blood cell alloimmunisation in transfusion-dependent thalassaemia: a systematic review.
Franchini, M., et al. (2019). Blood Transfusion.

Evidence-based interventions implemented in low-and middle-income countries for sickle cell disease management: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
Gyamfi, J., et al. (2021). PloS One

COVID-19 and Hemoglobinopathies: A Systematic Review of Clinical Presentations, Investigations, and Outcomes.
Lee, J.X., et al. (2021). Frontiers in Medicine.

Gene therapy for sickle cell disease.
Olowoyeye, A., and Okwundu, C.I., (2020). The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

Interventions for chronic kidney disease in people with sickle cell disease.
Roy, N.B, et al. (2017). The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

Editorial Board, Transfusion Evidence Round-Up, May 2022

Dr Sheetal Malhotra
Dr Sheetal Malhotra (MD Transfusion Medicine; MAMS) is Assistant Professor at the Department of  Transfusion Medicine, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India. She has several publications in national and international pubmed indexed journals. She has delivered guest lectures and presented papers in various national and international conferences. She has chaired many scientific sessions, organized CME  workshops on ‘Basics of Immunohematology’ and ‘NAT: A Promise for Safer Transfusion’ as the Organizing Secretary. She is a member of International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT), Association of Advancements of  Blood and Biotherapies (AABB), Indian Society of Transfusion Medicine (ISTM) and Life Member of Indian Society of Blood transfusion and Immunohematology (ISBTI). She is the recipient of Recipient of the "Margaret Kenwright Young Scientist Award" at the Annual Conference of British Blood Transfusion Society held at York, UK 2016. She received “Award of Excellence” for extra ordinary contribution in the field of Transfusion Medicine, National Annual Conference Transcon, 2017. She Received "Young Scientist Award" at the Annual Conference of Indian Society of Blood Transfusion and Immunohematology- Transcon 2019. She was awarded First (2022) and Second prize (2011) in poster presentation at Annual National conferences of Indian Society of Blood Transfusion & Immunohaematology. She has also received Top Reviewer Award in Publons' global Peer Review Awards. Her areas of interest: Immunohematology, Molecular blood group genotyping, Clinical transfusion practices.

Dr Laura Infanti
Dr. Infanti is a haematologist and has a Masters in Transfusion and Transplantation. She is deputy Medical Director at the Blood Transfusion Centre Swiss Red Cross of Basel, Switzerland, and works at the Haematology ward of the University Hospital of Basel in the outpatient clinic and in the Unit for Therapeutic Apheresis. Dr. Infanti is Assistant Professor of Haematology for the University of Basel, and is member of the national Working Party for Blood Donation and Apheresis of the Swiss Transfusion Service. Her specific interests include the care of blood donors, in particular issues related to iron homeostasis, the immunhaematological aspects of allogeneic stem cell transplantation, pathogen reduction of blood products, and the clinical care of patients with haemoglobinopathies.  

Dr Catarina Jacinto Correia
Dr Catarina Jacinto Correia (MD, MSc) is a 5th year resident doctor in immuno-hemotherapy, a medical specialty with both clinical and laboratory practice that is dedicated to transfusion medicine, thrombosis and hemostasis, anaemia, hemoglobinopathies, iron metabolism disorders, apheresis, cryobiology, cellular therapies, stem cells research and biobanking and histocompatibility testing and transplantation, at the Hospital de Santa Maria in Portugal. She also works in the Emergency Department of Hospital Santa Maria. She is on the advisory board of Advisory Board member of the ITAC-CME (The International Initiative on Thrombosis and Cancer) and is also a member of various scientific societies in Portugal and internationally.