Blood transfusion for the treatment of acute anaemia in inflammatory bowel disease and other digestive diseases

Table 2 Theoretical reasons supporting the restrictive or the liberal use of allogeneic red cells in normovolemic patients

Rationale supporting the liberal use of red cells

Augmenting O2 delivery may improve patient survival and functional recovery

Increased risk of coronary ischaemia due to increased demand

Reduces respiratory work

Age, disease severity and drugs may interfere adaptation to anaemia

Improved safety margin if further blood loss

Increased safety of donor blood products

Rationale supporting the restrictive use of red cells

Moderate anaemia has not proved to increased mortality

Red cell transfusions impair microcirculatory flow

Progressive loss of red cell functionality during storage

Pathologic supply dependency is rare

Risk of pathogen transmission

Immunodepression causing increased infections and tumor relapse following transfusion

Risk of TRALI and TACO

Blood products are increasingly scarce and expensive

TRALI: Transfusion-related acute lung injury; TACO: Transfusion associated circulatory overload.