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Updated: May 22, 2026

Continuous Manual Exchange Transfusion for Patients with Sickle Cell Disease: An Efficient Method to Avoid Iron Overload
Published on: March 14, 2017
Indications and complications of transfusions in sickle cell disease
Kim Smith-Whitley1, Alexis A Thompson
1Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. whitleyk@email.chop.edu
Red cell transfusion remains an important part of the management of acute and chronic complications in SCD. The ongoing and emerging uses of transfusions in SCD may have significant benefits; however, the potential complications of transfusions also deserve careful consideration. In this report we review current indications for transfusions, transfusion complications, modifications of transfusion practices to mitigate risk, and potential considerations to improve transfusion outcomes.
Red cell transfusion remains an important part of the management of acute and chronic complications in SCD. The ongoing and emerging uses of transfusions in SCD may have significant benefits; however, the potential complications of transfusions also deserve careful consideration. In this report we review current indications for transfusions, transfusion complications, modifications of transfusion practices to mitigate risk, and potential considerations to improve transfusion outcomes.
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