Anemia and Transfusion in Preclinical Models of Neonatology

Anemia is one of the most common complications observed in preterm infants. Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is a standard therapy for treating neonatal anemia, but it is not without risk. Several studies suggest that while transfusion may reverse anemia, it can also cause inflammation and impaired barrier function in the developing intestine, potentially leading to necrotizing enterocolitis. However, the features of the developing immune system in a preterm infant, along with the characteristics of the transfused RBC unit that contribute to neonatal complications, have been difficult to define using correlative clinical studies alone. To overcome this limitation, a phlebotomy-induced anemia model has been developed that allows for determining critical factors related to the pathology of anemia and the impact of various treatment options. This protocol defines the model of phlebotomy-induced anemia in murine pups for studying anemia and transfusion-associated gut injury and inflammation.