A study of Co- morbidities in children aged 6 months to 12 years receiving multiple blood transfusions

Abstract

Background: Transfusion of blood and blood products is an established way of treating patients who are deficient in one or more blood component.

Aim &objective: Blood transfusion is a vital therapeutic measure which influences the outcome of transfusion dependent subjects. Although survival has increased in these subjects parallel to advances in chemotherapy and chelating, they are more prone to acquiring various co morbidities like transfusion transmitted infection (TTI), transfusion associated adverse event, and iron overload leading to a negative impact on quality and duration of life of the patients.

Objective: To assess the consequences of multiple blood transfusions, leading to incidence of co morbidities in recipients.

Method: the present study entitled co morbidities in patients receiving multiple transfusions is a descriptive Study and has been carried out in institute during the period of February 2015 to February 2016. Patients receiving multiple blood transfusions were categorized as hemolytic disease and non-hemolytic disease. Patients were screened for transfusion transmitted infection like HIV and HBs Ag, serum ferrites.

Result: out of 100 subjects, 86 had hemolytic disease and 14 had non hemolytic disease. The study performed showed that out of 98 total co- morbidities, increased serum ferritin contributed to 67.35%, HIV to 10.20%, HbsAg to 15.31% and 7.14% was contributed by Transfusion Associated Serious Adverse Events (TASAE).

Conclusion: Blood transfusion can lead to severe adverse effects which can cause temporary or permanent morbidity.