Hello Everyone,

I am intrigued to learn what your views are on determining whether reticulocyte counts have a bearing on your decision to transfuse or not, and whether or not you have a set guideline. Thanks

Alistair

Dear Alistair,

This link could throw some light in to the matter - perhaps you are looking for.

http://www.adhb.govt.nz/newborn/Guidelines/Blood/ReticulocyteCounts.htm

Love.

Roy.

Edited November 10, 201015 yr by Sutirtha Roy

Hi Roy

Thanks for the link.

Best wishes

Alistair

...whether reticulocyte counts have a bearing on your decision to transfuse or not, and whether or not you have a set guideline.

Hi!

I have no fixed protocol for this topic but personally (and I think that my colleagues share this opinion) is to check both Hb, EVF and reticulocytes when we check for anemia in "recovering" preterm infants. If reticulocytes are low and Hb/EVF can be accepted (and the baby is gaining weight and is reasonably well/stable of course!), I try to postpone a transfusion as much as possible to stimulate reticulocyte production. Similarly, high reticulocytes and an acceptable Hb/EVF... same strategy.

When I come to think of this... we try hard to postpone all tranfusions, we only give erytrocytes when we feel anemia is truly "symtomatic" (whatever that may mean )

I have the same 'strategy' as Stefan. Usually I try to postpone transfusions as much as possible, and if the reticulocytes count is high, I try even harder. I managed to avoid transfusions many times with the 'help' of reticulocytes count (situations I wouldn't wait anymore, unless the retic count is high).

Recently, I've attended a lecture discussing the issue of PRBC's transfusion . Some Neonatologist think we "wait" too much .. I liked what Stefan said about symptomatic , whatever that means!