Study reveals new marker for predicting patients requiring blood transfusion in ICU

Receiving a blood transfusion in the intensive care unit (ICU) is not uncommon, but reliable predictors for patients that will require transfusion are not readily available. A new study published in the May issue of Anesthesiology seeks to reduce the occurrence of ICU transfusions, revealing a new marker for patients at higher risk for developing severe anemia and subsequently requiring transfusion in the ICU.

In this study, Rafael Fernandez, M.D., Ph.D. and colleagues set out to determine if patients with functional iron deficiency (called CHr) was associated with transfusion requirements in ICU patients.

"Previous studies have indicated that anemia is a common occurrence in ICU patients and is even associated with greater patient mortality while admitted to the hospital," said Dr. Fernandez. "Our study was designed as an observational investigation looking for clues about anemia in critically ill patients and associations between iron deficiency, a common cause of anemia, at ICU admission and the requirement for transfusion."