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Impact of the Preparation Method of Red Cell Concentrates on Transfusion Indices in Thalassemic Patients

Phase 4
Completed
Conditions
Thalassemia Major
Interventions
Biological: Blood component A
Biological: Blood component B
Registration Number
NCT03992001
Lead Sponsor
Università degli Studi di Ferrara
Brief Summary

This study compares the effects of Packed Red Blood Cells (PRBCs) prepared in two different ways on the transfusion indices in beta(ß)-Thalassemia transfusion-dependent patients. The two blood components types derive from the whole blood. In one case, the whole blood is leukoreduced with subsequent plasma removal. In the other case, plasma, buffy coat, and red blood cells (RBCs) are first separated and subsequently, the RBCs leukoreduced. Each type of blood components will be subsequently given to one-half of the patients for a 6-month period and to the other half for other 6-month at the randomization phase, for a total of 12 months of crossed-treatment per patient.

Detailed Description

At Day Hospital Talassemia ed Emoglobinopatie of Ferrara, two different PRBCs are available. The two types of blood components are obtained from whole blood, pre-storage leukoreduced and suspended in saline-adenine-glucose-mannitol (SAGM). One method of preparation consists of the whole blood leukoreduction with subsequent plasma removal. The other method first separates plasma, buffy coat, and RBCs, and then the RBCs are leukoreduced. The two methods mainly differ in the final haemoglobin (Hb) content: the Hb level is lower (-13%, approximately) in the second method that also shows the advantage to produce platelets from the buffy coat. A PRBCs unit is not as strictly defined as a therapeutic medication dose (pill or vial): individual PRBCs units may substantially differ in their Hb content, much more than the average difference between the two types of preparations. The aim of this study is to document the extent of the average difference between the two types of preparations, and its impacts on the transfusion indices of ß-Thalassaemia transfusion-dependent patients. All patients will receive each blood component for a period of 6 months (crossover design), for a total of 12 months of transfusion treatment per patient.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
55
Inclusion Criteria
  • Patient with beta(ß)-Thalassaemia transfusion-dependent (ß-Thalassemia Major or ß-Thalassemia Intermedia transfusion-dependent, regularly transfused since at least 5 years
Exclusion Criteria
  • Patient not exclusively transfused at Day Hospital Thalassaemia and Haemoglobinopathies of Ferrara
  • Patient with haemolytic auto-antibodies
  • Patient transfused with washed Packet RBCs units
  • Severe splenomegaly (>18 cm on echography)
  • Elevated blood consumption (>200 mL/kg of pure RBCs in the last year)
  • Patient receiving haemoglobin inducers in the last 6 months
  • Any significant clinical pulmonary, cardiovascular, endocrine, hepatic, gastrointestinal, renal, infectious, immunological including significant allo- or auto-immunisation disease, considered not adequately controlled prior to the study
  • Patient treated with erythrocyte exchange
  • Pregnant females

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Sequence A-BBlood component APatients in this arm will receive blood component A for 6 months and blood component B for the next 6 months
Sequence B-ABlood component BPatients in this arm will receive blood component B for 6 months and blood component A for the next 6 months
Sequence A-BBlood component BPatients in this arm will receive blood component A for 6 months and blood component B for the next 6 months
Sequence B-ABlood component APatients in this arm will receive blood component B for 6 months and blood component A for the next 6 months
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Transfusion Power IndexFor each of the two blood components studied, at the end of 6-month period of study

(Average pre-transfusion Hb concentration)/(Unit Index) \[for the definition of Unit Index, see the secondary outcomes\]

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Average Transfusion IntervalFor each of the two blood components studied, at the end of 6-month period of study

(Number of days between the first transfusion of the period and the first transfusion of the following period)/(Number of transfusions in the period)

Average pre-transfusion Hb concentrationFor each of the two blood components studied, at the end of 6-month period of study

Mean pre-transfusion Hb levels, calculated starting from the second transfusion of the period to the first transfusion of the following period

Transfusion Reaction RateStudy periods (2 periods of 6 months each)

(Number of transfusion reactions to the two blood components occurring in the study periods)/(Total number of PRBCs (A or B) transfused in the period)

Number of Transfusion ReactionsStudy periods (2 periods of 6 months each)

Number of transfusion reactions to the two blood components that may occur in the study periods (2 periods of 6 months each)

Unit IndexFor each of the two blood components studied, at the end of 6-month period of study

(Total number of PRBCs (A or B) transfused in the period)/(Number of days between the first transfusion of the period and the first transfusion of the following period)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Day Hospital Thalassaemia and Haemoglobinopathies (DHTE)

🇮🇹

Ferrara, Italy

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