• J P G Borges, A M N dos Santos, D H F da Cunha, A F M A Mimica, R Guinsburg, and B I Kopelman.
• Neonatal Division of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Federal University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
• Vox Sang. 2013 Apr 1; 104 (3): 207-13.

Background And ObjectivesPlatelet transfusions are performed almost entirely according to expert experience. This study assessed the effectiveness of a restrictive guideline to reduce platelet transfusions in preterm infants.MethodsA retrospective cohort of preterm infants with a birth weight of <1500 g had been born in 2 periods. In Period 1, a transfusion was indicated for a platelet count of <50,000/ml in clinically stable neonates or <100,000/ml in bleeding or clinically unstable infants. In Period 2, the indications were restricted to <25,000/ml in clinically stable neonates, or <50,000/ml in newborns who were either on mechanical ventilation, subject to imminent invasive procedures, within 72 h following a seizure, or extremely premature and <7 days old. A count of <100,000/ml was indicated for bleeding or major surgery.ResultsPeriods 1 and 2 comprised 121 and 134 neonates, respectively. The rates of ventricular haemorrhage and intrahospital death were similar in both periods. The percentage of transfused infants, the odds of receiving a platelet transfusion, the mean platelet count before transfusion and the percentage of transfusions with a platelet count >50,000/ml were greater in Period 1. Among thrombocytopenic neonates, the percentage of transfused neonates and the number of transfusions were similar in both groups.ConclusionThe restrictive guideline for platelet transfusions reduced the platelet count thresholds for neonatal transfusions without increasing the rate of ventricular haemorrhage.© 2012 The Author(s). Vox Sanguinis © 2012 International Society of Blood Transfusion.

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