Physiological response to phlebotomies for autologous transfusion at elective hip-joint surgery

In order to study the physiological response to phlebotomies for autotransfusion, an autotransfusion program was designed for 10 patients undergoing hip-joint replacement surgery for arthrosis. 4 phlebotomies of 450 ml each were performed within 12 days. Blood samples were taken immediately before phlebotomy for blood hemoglobin (Hb), serum erythropoietin (Epo), reticulocyte count (ret) and erythrocyte 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG). All 4 phlebotomies could be performed in 9/10 patients, and only 1 patient had significant symptoms (fatigue). The operation was performed 2 weeks after the last phlebotomy. None of the patients had recovered the initial Hb level at operation (24.8 +/- 9 per liter lower than initially), and they were all even more anemic after the operation (36.8 +/- 16.9 g/l lower than initially). Serum Epo increased from 13.6 +/- 7.2 IU to 30.6 +/- 12.2 (SD) IU per liter, and reticulocyte counts increased to a maximum of 3.68 +/- 1.69%. DPG increased in all patients except the one who had significant fatigue. It is concluded that the patients tolerated the phlebotomy program well but that a significant anemia developed. The compensatory increase in erythropoietin and reticulocyte count, adequate for this degree of anemia, was small compared to the increase seen at more severe anemia, indicating that there may be a role for pharmacological stimulation of erythropoiesis in blood predeposit programs.