Blood Transfusion for Pediatric Oncology Patient

3 Blood Transfusion for Pediatric Oncology Patient Introduction The prevalence and incidence of anemia amongst patients receiving cancer chemotherapy is high [1]. Approximately 15% of the cancer patients who are anemic are transfused with approximately two packs of the red blood cells [2]. According to the WHO studies, approximately 1-3% of the population must donate blood to provide the high quality blood products needed in every country [3]. Within Europe, the range of blood donors is approximately 2.4-54.1 per 1,000 inhabitants while the average number of RBC transfusion ranges from 3.057.4 per 1,000 inhabitants, creating a very wide gap [4]. The availability of high quality blood products for anemia treatment is a major problem in Europe [5]. Scientific organizations have formulated guidelines to be used in treating anemia with transfusion. Hemoglobin level of less than 9g/dl for asymptomatic patients has been used by most of them as a cut off value [6]. Other factors that are put into consideration in those guidelines are patient complaints and the cardiac problems [7].

Blood products transfusions are associated with various complications [8]. Complications of transfusion are classified as procedural, iron overload, direct immune injury, viral or and bacterial infections, and immune modulation. Voluntary blood donation is the most common method adopted by most of the countries [10]. In Europe, blood donation with no financial benefits to the donor has lea to limited availability of blood products. Blood donated can only be stored for 42 days [11]. Quality of the blood products decreases with the increase in the period of storage due to changes in metabolism, rhealogy and shape due to loss of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids leading to the alteration in oxygen delivery, secretion and adhesion [12]. Non immune hemolysis is also a problem associated with blood storage and administration [13]. The most