Guidelines on Red Cell Transfusion in Sickle Cell Disease Part II: Indications for Transfusion

Red cell transfusion has an important role in the management of sickle cell disease (SCD) in both emergency and elective settings. However, because of insufficient randomised data, it is not always clear when or how to use red cell transfusion. A companion guideline, Guidelines on red cell transfusion in sickle cell disease Part I: principles and laboratory aspects, addresses the general principles of transfusion practice in SCD (Davis et al, BJH in press). The present guideline examines current available evidence on indications for transfusion in SCD. This may not be appropriate for all clinical scenarios and clinical decisions must be based on individual patient considerations. In both guidelines, the term sickle cell disease refers to all genotypes of the disease, and sickle cell anaemia to the homozygous state (SS). Abstract source