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A Comparative Preliminary Randomized Clinical Study to Evaluate Heavy Bupivacaine Dextrose Prolotherapy (HDP) and Autologous Blood Injection (ABI) for Symptomatic Temporomandibular Joint Hypermobility Disorder
Bhargava D, Sivakumar B, Bhargava PG
Journal of maxillofacial and oral surgery. 2023;22(1):110-118
Abstract
PURPOSE Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) sub-luxation can have a significant psycho-social impact on a patients' well-being. Several treatment modalities have been described in the literature for the same. The present study was undertaken to investigate the efficacy of heavy bupivacaine-dextrose prolotherapy (HDP) for the peri-articular tissues, superior joint space and the retro-discal area in the patients with symptomatic chronic sub-luxation. MATERIALS AND METHODS A preliminary clinical study was conducted among 60 patients diagnosed with chronic painful sub-luxation of the TMJ. Patients were divided into control group (CG), n = 30, where autologous blood was injected in the superior joint space, peri-capsular tissues and retro-discal area bilaterally as per the predetermined protocol; and the study group (SG), n = 30 patients were administered heavy bupivacaine-dextrose injection bilaterally in the peri-articular tissues, superior joint space and retro-discal area. The efficacy of the treatment was evaluated by assessing pain, maximum inter-incisal opening (MIO), changes in computed tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging study, number and need for subsequent injections in both the groups. RESULT Among the 60 patients, majority of the patients exhibited successful outcome after both the interventions, ABI and HDP. There was statistically significant reduction in recorded pain score with reduced MIO post-treatment. No morphological changes were noted in the condyle in both the groups. No complications were recorded among the study population. CONCLUSION HDP is a safe and simple modality for treating symptomatic sub-luxation with predictable clinical outcome. Heavy bupivacaine-dextrose can be considered as a prolotherapeutic agent for symptomatic chronic temporomandibular joint sub-luxation with the pharmacological benefit of local anaesthesia and proliferent delivery through the same injection.
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Informative cluster size in cluster-randomised trials: A case study from the TRIGGER trial
Kahan, B. C., Li, F., Blette, B., Jairath, V., Copas, A., Harhay, M.
Clinical trials (London, England). 2023;:17407745231186094
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent work has shown that cluster-randomised trials can estimate two distinct estimands: the participant-average and cluster-average treatment effects. These can differ when participant outcomes or the treatment effect depends on the cluster size (termed informative cluster size). In this case, estimators that target one estimand (such as the analysis of unweighted cluster-level summaries, which targets the cluster-average effect) may be biased for the other. Furthermore, commonly used estimators such as mixed-effects models or generalised estimating equations with an exchangeable correlation structure can be biased for both estimands. However, there has been little empirical research into whether informative cluster size is likely to occur in practice. METHOD We re-analysed a cluster-randomised trial comparing two different thresholds for red blood cell transfusion in patients with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding to explore whether estimates for the participant- and cluster-average effects differed, to provide empirical evidence for whether informative cluster size may be present. For each outcome, we first estimated a participant-average effect using independence estimating equations, which are unbiased under informative cluster size. We then compared this to two further methods: (1) a cluster-average effect estimated using either weighted independence estimating equations or unweighted cluster-level summaries, and (2) estimates from a mixed-effects model or generalised estimating equations with an exchangeable correlation structure. We then performed a small simulation study to evaluate whether observed differences between cluster- and participant-average estimates were likely to occur even if no informative cluster size was present. RESULTS For most outcomes, treatment effect estimates from different methods were similar. However, differences of >10% occurred between participant- and cluster-average estimates for 5 of 17 outcomes (29%). We also observed several notable differences between estimates from mixed-effects models or generalised estimating equations with an exchangeable correlation structure and those based on independence estimating equations. For example, for the EQ-5D VAS score, the independence estimating equation estimate of the participant-average difference was 4.15 (95% confidence interval: -3.37 to 11.66), compared with 2.84 (95% confidence interval: -7.37 to 13.04) for the cluster-average independence estimating equation estimate, and 3.23 (95% confidence interval: -6.70 to 13.16) from a mixed-effects model. Similarly, for thromboembolic/ischaemic events, the independence estimating equation estimate for the participant-average odds ratio was 0.43 (95% confidence interval: 0.07 to 2.48), compared with 0.33 (95% confidence interval: 0.06 to 1.77) from the cluster-average estimator. CONCLUSION In this re-analysis, we found that estimates from the various approaches could differ, which may be due to the presence of informative cluster size. Careful consideration of the estimand and the plausibility of assumptions underpinning each estimator can help ensure an appropriate analysis methods are used. Independence estimating equations and the analysis of cluster-level summaries (with appropriate weighting for each to correspond to either the participant-average or cluster-average treatment effect) are a desirable choice when informative cluster size is deemed possible, due to their unbiasedness in this setting.
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Finger-Prick Autologous Blood (FAB) Eye Drops for Dry Eye Disease: Single Masked Multi-Centre Randomised Controlled Trial
Hassan A, Balal S, Cook E, Dehbi HM, Pardhan S, Bourne R, Ahmad S, Sharma A
Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.). 2022;16:3973-3979
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate the quantitative and qualitative efficacy of finger-prick autologous blood (FAB) eye drops versus conventional medical therapy for the treatment of severe dry eye disease (DED). METHODS Two centre, single masked, randomised controlled trial. Sixty patients in total were recruited with thirty patients (sixty eyes) treated with FAB eye drops four times per day in addition to their conventional DED treatment, and thirty patients (fifty-eight eyes) served as control subjects on conventional treatment alone. Ocular surface disease index (OSDI), Schirmer's test, fluorescein ocular staining grade (OCSG) Oxford schema and fluorescein tear film break-up time (TBUT), were performed at baseline, at 4 and 8 weeks. RESULTS OSDI scores significantly decreased in the FAB arm by greater than -17.68 (-37.67 to -2.96, p=0.02) compared to the control arm. There were greater improvements in OCSG and TBUT in the FAB arm but these were non-significant (p>0.05). CONCLUSION This feasibility study demonstrates adding FAB eye drops to conventional medical therapy for DED improves mean OSDI symptom score compared to conventional medical therapy alone. It may have particular use in settings where serum is unobtainable. An adequately powered and well-designed randomised trial is needed to further evaluate the long-term clinical benefit of FAB.
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Safety and Short-term Outcomes of High-Dose Erythropoietin in Preterm Infants With Intraventricular Hemorrhage: The EpoRepair Randomized Clinical Trial
Wellmann S, Hagmann CF, von Felten S, Held L, Klebermass-Schrehof K, Truttmann AC, Knöpfli C, Fauchère JC, Bührer C, Bucher HU, et al
JAMA network open. 2022;5(12):e2244744
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Abstract
IMPORTANCE Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is a major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality in preterm infants without a specific medical treatment to date. OBJECTIVE To assess the safety and short-term outcomes of high-dose erythropoietin in preterm infants with IVH. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Between April 1, 2014, and August 3, 2018, a randomized double-blind clinical trial enrolled 121 preterm infants (gestational age <32 weeks or birth weight <1500 g) aged 8 or less days with moderate to severe IVH identified by cerebral ultrasonography from 8 Swiss and Austrian tertiary neonatal units. Statistical analyses were performed between October 1, 2019, and September 12, 2022. INTERVENTIONS Infants received intravenous high-dose erythropoietin (2000 units/kg body weight) or placebo at 4 time points between weeks 1 and 4 of life. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Secondary outcomes included (1) mortality and morbidity rates and (2) brain magnetic resonance imaging findings at term-equivalent age (TEA). The primary outcome was the composite intelligence quotient at 5 years of age (not available before 2023). RESULTS Sixty infants (48% male [n = 29]) were randomly assigned to receive erythropoietin, and 61 infants (61% male [n = 37]) were randomly assigned to receive placebo. The median birth weight was 832 g (IQR, 687-990 g) in the erythropoietin group and 870 g (IQR, 680-1110 g) in the placebo group. Median gestation was 26.1 weeks (IQR, 24.8-27.3 weeks) in the erythropoietin group and 27.0 weeks (24.9-28.1 weeks) in the placebo group. The 2 groups had similar baseline characteristics and morbidities. Up to TEA, 10 newborns died (16.7%) in the erythropoietin group, and 5 newborns (8.2%) died in the placebo group (adjusted odds ratio, 2.24 [95% CI, 0.74-7.66]; P = .15). Infants receiving erythropoietin had higher mean hematocrit levels. Conventional magnetic resonance imaging at TEA for 100 infants showed no significant differences in global or regional brain injury scores. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This preliminary report of a randomized clinical trial found no evidence that high-dose erythropoietin in preterm infants with IVH affects brain injury scores on conventional magnetic resonance imaging at TEA. Higher mortality in the erythropoietin group was not significant but should be reassessed based on future results from similar trials. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02076373.
PICO Summary
Population
Preterm infants with intraventricular haemorrhage enrolled in the EpoRepair trial, in 8 Swiss and Austrian tertiary neonatal units (n= 121).
Intervention
Intravenous high-dose erythropoietin (n= 60).
Comparison
Placebo (n= 61).
Outcome
The median birth weight was 832 g (IQR, 687-990 g) in the erythropoietin group and 870 g (IQR, 680-1110 g) in the placebo group. Median gestation was 26.1 weeks (IQR, 24.8-27.3 weeks) in the erythropoietin group and 27.0 weeks (24.9-28.1 weeks) in the placebo group. Both groups had similar baseline characteristics and morbidities. Up to term-equivalent age (TEA), 10 newborns died (16.7%) in the erythropoietin group, and 5 newborns (8.2%) died in the placebo group (adjusted odds ratio, 2.24 (95% CI 0.74 to 7.66)). Infants receiving erythropoietin had higher mean haematocrit levels. Conventional magnetic resonance imaging at TEA for 100 infants showed no significant differences in global or regional brain injury scores.
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Effect of a Restrictive vs Liberal Blood Transfusion Strategy on Major Cardiovascular Events Among Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction and Anemia: The REALITY Randomized Clinical Trial
Ducrocq G, Gonzalez-Juanatey JR, Puymirat E, Lemesle G, Cachanado M, Durand-Zaleski I, Arnaiz JA, Martínez-Sellés M, Silvain J, Ariza-Solé A, et al
Jama. 2021;325(6):552-560
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Abstract
IMPORTANCE The optimal transfusion strategy in patients with acute myocardial infarction and anemia is unclear. OBJECTIVE To determine whether a restrictive transfusion strategy would be clinically noninferior to a liberal strategy. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Open-label, noninferiority, randomized trial conducted in 35 hospitals in France and Spain including 668 patients with myocardial infarction and hemoglobin level between 7 and 10 g/dL. Enrollment could be considered at any time during the index admission for myocardial infarction. The first participant was enrolled in March 2016 and the last was enrolled in September 2019. The final 30-day follow-up was accrued in November 2019. INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomly assigned to undergo a restrictive (transfusion triggered by hemoglobin ≤8; n = 342) or a liberal (transfusion triggered by hemoglobin ≤10 g/dL; n = 324) transfusion strategy. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary clinical outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE; composite of all-cause death, stroke, recurrent myocardial infarction, or emergency revascularization prompted by ischemia) at 30 days. Noninferiority required that the upper bound of the 1-sided 97.5% CI for the relative risk of the primary outcome be less than 1.25. The secondary outcomes included the individual components of the primary outcome. RESULTS Among 668 patients who were randomized, 666 patients (median [interquartile range] age, 77 [69-84] years; 281 [42.2%] women) completed the 30-day follow-up, including 342 in the restrictive transfusion group (122 [35.7%] received transfusion; 342 total units of packed red blood cells transfused) and 324 in the liberal transfusion group (323 [99.7%] received transfusion; 758 total units transfused). At 30 days, MACE occurred in 36 patients (11.0% [95% CI, 7.5%-14.6%]) in the restrictive group and in 45 patients (14.0% [95% CI, 10.0%-17.9%]) in the liberal group (difference, -3.0% [95% CI, -8.4% to 2.4%]). The relative risk of the primary outcome was 0.79 (1-sided 97.5% CI, 0.00-1.19), meeting the prespecified noninferiority criterion. In the restrictive vs liberal group, all-cause death occurred in 5.6% vs 7.7% of patients, recurrent myocardial infarction occurred in 2.1% vs 3.1%, emergency revascularization prompted by ischemia occurred in 1.5% vs 1.9%, and nonfatal ischemic stroke occurred in 0.6% of patients in both groups. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Among patients with acute myocardial infarction and anemia, a restrictive compared with a liberal transfusion strategy resulted in a noninferior rate of MACE after 30 days. However, the CI included what may be a clinically important harm. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02648113.
PICO Summary
Population
Patients with myocardial infarction enrolled in the REALITY trial (n= 668).
Intervention
Restrictive transfusion strategy, haemoglobin <8 g/dL (n= 342).
Comparison
Liberal transfusion strategy, haemoglobin <10 g/dL (n = 324).
Outcome
Among the patients in the restrictive transfusion group, 122 (35.7%) received transfusion, compared to 323 (99.7%) patients in the liberal transfusion group. At 30 days, major adverse cardiovascular events occurred in 36 patients (11.0%) in the restrictive group and in 45 patients (14.0%) in the liberal group. In the restrictive vs. liberal group, all-cause death occurred in 5.6% vs. 7.7% of patients, recurrent myocardial infarction occurred in 2.1% vs. 3.1%, emergency revascularization prompted by ischemia occurred in 1.5% vs. 1.9%, and nonfatal ischemic stroke occurred in 0.6% of patients in both groups.
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Prolonged Blood Storage and Risk of Posttransfusion Acute Kidney Injury
Adegboye J, Sapatnekar S, Mascha EJ, Shah K, Lioudis M, Essber H, Cohen B, Rivas E, Heddle NM, Eikelboom JW, et al
Anesthesiology. 2021
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
BACKGROUND Erythrocyte transfusions are independently associated with acute kidney injury. Kidney injury may be consequent to the progressive hematologic changes that develop during storage. This study therefore tested the hypothesis that prolonged erythrocyte storage increases posttransfusion acute kidney injury. METHODS The Informing Fresh versus Old Red Cell Management (INFORM) trial randomized 31,497 patients to receive either the freshest or oldest available matching erythrocyte units and showed comparable mortality with both. This a priori substudy compared the incidence of posttransfusion acute kidney injury in the randomized groups. Acute kidney injury was defined by the creatinine component of the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes criteria. RESULTS The 14,461 patients included in this substudy received 40,077 erythrocyte units. For patients who received more than one unit, the mean age of the blood units was used as the exposure. The median of the mean age of blood units transfused per patient was 11 days [interquartile range, 8, 15] in the freshest available blood group and 23 days [interquartile range, 17, 30] in the oldest available blood group. In the primary analysis, posttransfusion acute kidney injury was observed in 688 of 4,777 (14.4%) patients given the freshest available blood and 1,487 of 9,684 (15.4%) patients given the oldest available blood, with an estimated relative risk (95% CI) of 0.94 (0.86 to 1.02; P = 0.132). The secondary analysis treated blood age as a continuous variable (defined as duration of storage in days), with an estimated relative risk (95% CI) of 1.00 (0.96 to 1.04; P = 0.978) for a 10-day increase in the mean age of erythrocyte units. CONCLUSIONS In a population of patients without severely impaired baseline renal function receiving fewer than 10 erythrocyte units, duration of blood storage had no effect on the incidence of posttransfusion acute kidney injury.
PICO Summary
Population
Hospitalized patients enrolled across four countries in the Informing Fresh versus Old Red Cell Management (INFORM) trial (n= 14,461).
Intervention
Transfusion with freshest available erythrocyte units (n= 4,777).
Comparison
Transfusion with oldest available erythrocyte units (n= 9,684).
Outcome
The median of the mean age of blood units transfused per patient was 11 days in the freshest available blood group and 23 days in the oldest available blood group. In the primary analysis, post-transfusion acute kidney injury was observed in 688 of 4,777 (14.4%) patients given the freshest available blood and 1,487 of 9,684 (15.4%) patients given the oldest available blood, with an estimated relative risk of 0.94.
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Allogeneic umbilical cord blood infusion for adults with ischemic stroke: clinical outcomes from a phase 1 safety study
Laskowit D T, Bennett E R, Durham R J, Volpi J J, Wiese J R, Frankel M, Shpall E, Wilson J M, Troy J, Kurtzberg J
Stem Cells Translational Medicine. 2018;7((7):):521-529
Abstract
Stroke is a major cause of death and long-term disability, affecting one in six people worldwide. The only currently available approved pharmacological treatment for ischemic stroke is tissue plasminogen activator; however, relatively few patients are eligible for this therapy. We hypothesized that intravenous (IV) infusion of banked unrelated allogeneic umbilical cord blood (UCB) would improve functional outcomes in patients with ischemic stroke. To investigate this, we conducted a phase 1 open-label trial to assess the safety and feasibility of a single IV infusion of non-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matched, ABO matched, unrelated allogeneic UCB into adult stroke patients. Ten participants with acute middle cerebral artery ischemic stroke were enrolled. UCB units were matched for blood group antigens and race but not HLA, and infused 3-9 days post-stroke. The adverse event (AE) profile over a 12 month postinfusion period indicated that the treatment was well-tolerated in these stroke patients, with no serious AEs directly related to the study product. Study participants were also assessed using neurological and functional evaluations, including the modified Rankin Score (mRS) and National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). At 3 months post-treatment, all participants had improved by at least one grade in mRS (mean 2.8 +/- 0.9) and by at least 4 points in NIHSS (mean 5.9 +/- 1.4), relative to baseline. Together, these data suggest that a single i.v. dose of allogeneic non-HLA matched human UCB cells is safe in adults with ischemic stroke, and support the conduct of a randomized, placebo-controlled phase 2 study. Stem Cells Translational Medicine 2018.
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Effect of transfusion of washed red blood cells on serumpotassium level in hemodialysis patients
Demirtunc R, Ustun E, Karatoprak C, Kayatas K, Cetinkaya F, Ozensoy U, Kazancioglu R
Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences. 2017;47((2)):407-411.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: This study aimed to compare washed red blood cell (WRBC) transfusion versus nonwashed RBC (NWRBC) transfusion in terms of posttransfusion potassium levels in dialysis patients on a day when the patient did not receive dialysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS The patients were randomly assigned into two groups, i.e. those receiving WRBCs (n = 21) and those receiving NWRBCs (n = 17). Both groups received one unit of RBCs. Serum potassium and sodium levels were measured before and at the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 6th hours after transfusion. RESULTS In the WRBC group, the changes in the serum potassium levels at the 3rd, 4th, and 6th hours after transfusion were significant compared with pretransfusion levels. In the serum potassium levels mean decreases by 0.38 +/- 0.57 mEq/L at the 3rd hour (P = 0.006), by 0.32 +/- 0.47 mEq/L at the 4th hour (P = 0.005), and by 0.32 +/- 0.51 mEq/L at the 6th hour (P = 0.009) after transfusion were significant compared with the pretransfusion levels. CONCLUSION Although nonwashed RBC transfusion does not change serum potassium levels, washed RBC transfusion significantly reduces serum potassium levels. Washed RBC transfusion is considered to be safer in hemodialysis patients with hyperkalemia and anemia.
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B-type natriuretic peptide and plasma hemoglobin levels following transfusion of shorter-storage versus longer-storage red blood cells: results from the TOTAL randomized trial
Dhabangi A, Ainomugisha B, Cserti-Gazdewich C, Ddungu H, Kyeyune D, Musisi E, Opoka R, Stowell CP, Dzik WH
American Heart Journal. 2016;183:129-136
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Prior studies have suggested that transfusion of stored red blood cells (RBCs) with increased levels of cell-free hemoglobin might reduce the bioavailability of recipient nitric oxide (NO) and cause myocardial strain. METHODS Ugandan children (ages 6-60 months) with severe anemia and lactic acidosis were randomly assigned to receive RBCs stored 1-10 days versus 25-35 days. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), vital signs, renal function test results, and plasma hemoglobin were measured. Most children had either malaria or sickle cell disease and were thus at risk for reduced NO bioavailability. RESULTS Seventy patients received RBCs stored 1-10 days, and 77 received RBCs stored 25-35 days. The median (interquartile range) cell-free hemoglobin was nearly 3 times higher in longer-storage RBCs (26.4 [15.5-43.4] mumol/L) than in shorter-storage RBCs (10.8 [7.8-18.6] mumol/L), P < .0001. Median (interquartile range) BNP 2 hours posttransfusion was 156 (59-650) pg/mL (shorter storage) versus 158 (59-425) pg/mL (longer storage), P = .76. BNP values 22 hours posttransfusion were 110 (46-337) pg/mL (shorter storage) versus 96 (49-310) pg/mL (longer storage), P = .76. Changes in BNP within individuals from pretransfusion to 2 hours (or 22 hours) posttransfusion were not significantly different between the study groups. BNP change following transfusion did not correlate with the concentration of cell-free hemoglobin in the RBC supernatant. Blood pressure, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and change in plasma hemoglobin were not significantly different in the 2 groups. CONCLUSION In a randomized trial among children at risk for reduced NO bioavailability, we found that BNP, blood pressure, creatinine, and plasma hemoglobin were not higher in patients receiving RBCs stored for 25-35 versus 1-10 days.
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Restrictive versus liberal blood transfusion for acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (TRIGGER): a pragmatic, open-label, cluster randomised feasibility trial
Jairath V, Kahan BC, Gray A, Dore CJ, Mora A, James MW, Stanley AJ, Everett SM, Bailey AA, Dallal H, et al
Lancet. 2015;386((9989)):137-44.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transfusion thresholds for acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding are controversial. So far, only three small, underpowered studies and one single-centre trial have been done. Findings from the single-centre trial showed reduced mortality with restrictive red blood cell (RBC) transfusion. We aimed to assess whether a multicentre, cluster randomised trial is a feasible method to substantiate or refute this finding. METHODS In this pragmatic, open-label, cluster randomised feasibility trial, done in six university hospitals in the UK, we enrolled all patients aged 18 years or older with new presentations of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding, irrespective of comorbidity, except for exsanguinating haemorrhage. We randomly assigned hospitals (1:1) with a computer-generated randomisation sequence (random permuted block size of 6, without stratification or matching) to either a restrictive (transfusion when haemoglobin concentration fell below 80 g/L) or liberal (transfusion when haemoglobin concentration fell below 100 g/L) RBC transfusion policy. Neither patients nor investigators were masked to treatment allocation. Feasibility outcomes were recruitment rate, protocol adherence, haemoglobin concentration, RBC exposure, selection bias, and information to guide design and economic evaluation of the phase 3 trial. Main exploratory clinical outcomes were further bleeding and mortality at day 28. We did analyses on all enrolled patients for whom an outcome was available. This trial is registered, ISRCTN85757829 and NCT02105532. FINDINGS Between Sept 3, 2012, and March 1, 2013, we enrolled 936 patients across six hospitals (403 patients in three hospitals with a restrictive policy and 533 patients in three hospitals with a liberal policy). Recruitment rate was significantly higher for the liberal than for the restrictive policy (62% vs 55%; p=004). Despite some baseline imbalances, Rockall and Blatchford risk scores were identical between policies. Protocol adherence was 96% (SD 10) in the restrictive policy vs 83% (25) in the liberal policy (difference 14%; 95% CI 7-21; p=0005). Mean last recorded haemoglobin concentration was 116 (SD 24) g/L for patients on the restrictive policy and 118 (20) g/L for those on the liberal policy (difference -20 [95% CI -120 to 70]; p=050). Fewer patients received RBCs on the restrictive policy than on the liberal policy (restrictive policy 133 [33%] vs liberal policy 247 [46%]; difference -12% [95% CI -35 to 11]; p=023), with fewer RBC units transfused (mean 12 [SD 21] vs 19 [28]; difference -07 [-16 to 03]; p=012), although these differences were not significant. We noted no significant difference in clinical outcomes. INTERPRETATION A cluster randomised design led to rapid recruitment, high protocol adherence, separation in degree of anaemia between groups, and non-significant reduction in RBC transfusion in the restrictive policy. A large cluster randomised trial to assess the effectiveness of transfusion strategies for acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding is both feasible and essential before clinical practice guidelines change to recommend restrictive transfusion for all patients with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding. FUNDING NHS Blood and Transplant Research and Development.Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.