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Updated: Jul 1, 2026

Continuous Manual Exchange Transfusion for Patients with Sickle Cell Disease: An Efficient Method to Avoid Iron Overload
Published on: March 14, 2017
Red cell transfusion triggers
1Freeman Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK. jonathan.wallis@nuth.nhs.uk
The epidemiology of red cell transfusion is changing. Surgical use has decreased due to reduced transfusion triggers and better operative techniques. Medical use increases partly due to the increasing age of the population. The evidence for and against transfusion at different levels of anaemia is discussed. The appropriate level of haemoglobin at which to recommend transfusion depends on the indication for transfusion, the patient's co-morbidities and the quality of the red cells available.
The epidemiology of red cell transfusion is changing. Surgical use has decreased due to reduced transfusion triggers and better operative techniques. Medical use increases partly due to the increasing age of the population. The evidence for and against transfusion at different levels of anaemia is discussed. The appropriate level of haemoglobin at which to recommend transfusion depends on the indication for transfusion, the patient's co-morbidities and the quality of the red cells available.
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