Myocardial Ischemia and Transfusion: A Pilot, Multi-centre, Open-label Randomized Controlled Trial of Two Commonly Used Transfusion Strategies in Patients With Myocardial Infarction.

Heart attacks are conditions where blood flow to the heart muscle is dangerously low - eventually causing heart muscle to die. Drugs improving the blood flow, and procedures such angioplasty, are the mainstay of therapies. They will only work if there is enough oxygen transported in blood. In fact, the heart may be deprived of oxygen not only because of the heart attack itself but also because of low blood counts (or anemia). Anemia, or low blood counts, may be caused by bleeding or by conditions such as cancer, kidney failure, chronic infections or conditions such as severe arthritis. A transfusion increases the delivery of oxygen to the heart muscle. However, we do not know at what level of anemia to initiate blood transfusion to prevent permanent heart damage. Indeed, having low blood counts may be harmful but blood transfusions also carries important risks including extra fluid in the lungs and heart inability to pump effectively.

In previous studies, investigators demonstrated that giving less blood is safer in most patients. But, there is little evidence in patients with heart attack. This first pilot trial aims to make sure that a large study that will answer the question is doable. The large trial aims to determine when and how much blood to give to minimize damage. In both studies, patients who have a heart attack will be divided into two groups in the hopes of preventing patients from dying. One group will receive more blood and the other group less blood. In the pilot trial, it will be evaluated if we can recruit patients with heart attack in a timely fashion. This trial will span over 12 months. If patient recruitment goes well, investigators will move ahead with the second phase of the project involving over 3500 patients. The numbers of patients who die or have another heart attack as well as if doctors follow treatment plans will be recorded. The 5-year large scale project will provide a definitive answer to the amount and optimal timing of blood transfusion.