1.
Prophylactic intravenous calcium therapy for exchange blood transfusion in the newborn
Ogunlesi TA, Lesi FE, Oduwole O
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2017;((10)):CD011048.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exchange blood transfusion (EBT) is a form of whole blood transfusion in which the total blood volume is replaced within a few hours. In perinatal and neonatal medicine, EBT is most often used in the management of severe anaemia or severe hyperbilirubinaemia in the first week of life. Hypocalcaemia, one of the common morbidities associated with EBT, is thought to arise from the chelating effects of the citrate commonly used as an anticoagulant in the donor's blood. This disorder manifests with muscular and nervous irritability and cardiac arrhythmias. OBJECTIVES To determine whether the use of prophylactic calcium reduces the risk of hypocalcaemia-related morbidities and death among newborn infants receiving EBT. SEARCH METHODS We used the standard search strategy of the Cochrane Neonatal Review group to search the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL 2016, Issue 5), MEDLINE via PubMed (1966 to 29 June 2016), Embase (1980 to 29 June 2016), and CINAHL (1982 to 29 June 2016). We also searched clinical trials databases, conference proceedings, and the reference lists of retrieved articles for randomised controlled trials and quasi-randomised trials. SELECTION CRITERIA All randomised and quasi-randomised trials of prophylactic intravenous calcium in EBT for newborns. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two review authors independently assessed and extracted data on methods, participants, interventions, and outcomes (mean total and ionised serum calcium before and after EBT and the presence of adverse events such as hypoglycaemia, apnoea, cardiac arrest, and death immediately after EBT). We reported results as means difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for continuous outcomes and risk ratio (RR) and risk differences (RD) and 95% CIs for dichotomous outcomes. We assessed quality using the Cochrane 'Risk of bias' assessment tool and the GRADE system. MAIN RESULTS We found only one quasi-randomised trial with 30 participants that met our inclusion criteria. In the small trial, total and ionised serum calcium levels were measured immediately before and immediately after EBT. All the participants were included in the final analysis and all the important outcomes were reported. Primary outcomesThere was one death in each group (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.07 to 14.55; RD 0.00, 95% CI -0.18 to 0.18; participants = 30; studies = 1). The study did not report the presence of cardiac arrhythmias within one week of EBT and the number of infants with serum calcium levels (total less than 8 mg/dL (2 mmol/L) or ionised less than 4.4 mg/dL (1.1 mmol/L)).Pair-wise comparison of EBT with intravenous 10% calcium gluconate versus EBT without intravenous calcium (change from baseline) showed mean total serum calcium was raised in the intervention group compared to the control group (MD -0.46, 95% CI -0.81 to -0.11; participants = 30; studies = 1). Very low-quality evidence also indicated an increase in the levels of mean ionised serum calcium in the intervention group compared to the control group (MD -0.22, 95% CI -0.33 to -0.11; participants = 30; studies = 1). Secondary outcomesAdverse reactions to intravenous calcium therapy included cardiac arrest in one neonate in the intervention arm (RR 3.00, 95% CI 0.13 to 68.26; RD 0.07, 95% CI -0.10 to 0.23; participants = 30; studies = 1). There was apnoea and hypoglycaemia (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.07 to 14.55; RD 0.00, 95% CI -0.18 to 0.18; participants = 30; studies = 1) in the two neonates who died. Data were not available for other major secondary outcomes such as the number of infants with reduced serum magnesium, reduced parathormone, increased calcitonin, presence of seizures, carpopedal spasm, jitteriness and prolonged QTc interval on electrocardiography within one week of EBT. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Very low-quality data from one quasi-randomised controlled trial suggested that the mean serum total and ionised calcium increased in the study group but decreased in the control group immediately after EBT. However, the mean values of total and ionised cal
2.
The role of exchange transfusions in the management of low-birth-weight infants with and without severe respiratory distress syndrome. II. Further observations and studies of mechanisms of action
Gottuso MA, Williams ML, Oski FA
Journal of Pediatrics. 1976;89((2):):279-85.
Abstract
Exchange transfusion, as a form of therapy, was contrasted with the use of fresh frozen plasma or conventional supportive care alone in the management of 19 infants with birth weights of less than 1,000 gm, without severe respiratory distress, and in the management of 82 infants, birth weights less than 2,000 gm, with severe respiratory distress whose disease manifested itself within the first 24 hours of life. Survival for more than five days was similar, regardless of therapy, in infants weighing less than 1,000 gm without severe RDS. In contrast, the use of exchange transfusion significantly decreased the case fatality rate of infants with severe RDS. In the groups receiving exchange transfusion, the mortality rate was 41%, whereas the groups receiving either plasma or supportive care alone the mortality was 80%. Study of coagulation factors and red cell concentrations of fetal hemoglobin and of 2,3-DPG failed to demonstrate any relationship between either improvement in coagulation or oxygen unloading and the improved survival of infants receiving exchange transfusion. Following exchange transfusion there was a significant decrease in the ratio of FIO2 to PaO2, suggesting that pulmonary perfusion and/or ventilation was improved by the procedure.