JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Association of Red Blood Cell Transfusion, Anemia, and Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Very Low-Birth-Weight Infants.
Data regarding the contribution of red blood cell (RBC) transfusion and anemia to necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) are conflicting. These associations have not been prospectively evaluated, accounting for repeated, time-varying exposures. ⋯ Among VLBW infants, severe anemia, but not RBC transfusion, was associated with an increased risk of NEC. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether preventing severe anemia is more important than minimizing RBC transfusion.