Combining Restrictive Guidelines and a NIRS SCORE to Decrease RBC Transfusions

A Pilot Randomized Trial of Restrictive Red Blood Cell Transfusion Guidelines Used in Combination With Near-infrared Spectroscopy Splanchnic-cerebral Oxygenation Ratio Evaluations Versus Liberal Red Blood Cell Transfusion Guidelines in Preterm Infants

The primary aim of this study is to determine the mean number of red blood cell (RBC) transfusions received by preterm infants cared for using restrictive Hgb guidelines in combination with splanchnic to cerebral oxygenation ratio (SCOR) assessment compared to the mean number of transfusions received by preterm infants cared for using liberal guidelines alone.

This study is designed as a prospective randomized controlled trial. Preterm infants less than 30 weeks gestational age and 500-1250 grams in weight will be recruited and enrolled into the study during day of life 0 to 3. Study participants will be randomly assigned into two groups: a restrictive transfusion group and a liberal transfusion group. In the liberal group, RBC transfusions will be given to subjects when their Hgb level falls below defined values that are based on respiratory support status. In the restrictive group, RBC transfusions will be given to subjects either when their Hgb level falls below defined values based on respiratory status or, despite not having reached their Hgb trigger threshold, if they manifest symptoms judged by the clinical care team to be consistent with anemia (i.e. apnea, bradycardia, or desaturation episodes) and subsequently have a near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) evaluation that demonstrates an SCOR < 0.73.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Anemia of Prematurity (AOP)
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Restrictive transfusions based on SCOR assessment; Other: Liberal transfusions

Detailed Description

Previous studies have demonstrated that premature infants transfused using restrictive guidelines, in which red blood cell (RBC) transfusions are triggered at relatively low Hgb thresholds, receive significantly fewer transfusions and have similar clinical outcomes to premature infants transfused using liberal transfusion guidelines that use higher Hgb thresholds. However, some remain apprehensive about a restrictive transfusion approach, primarily because the research remains somewhat limited. In addition, concern also exists because some previous researchers found that although there was no difference in mortality based on whether a restrictive or liberal transfusion guideline was used, they did find that a liberal transfusion policy may provide a neuro-protective benefit. This then implies that there may be circumstances in which a neonate transfused with a restrictive strategy could benefit from an increased Hgb level, but does not receive transfusion because their Hgb has not dropped below a predefined transfusion trigger level.

The investigators have previously demonstrated in an observational study that measuring tissue oxygen saturation (rSO2) levels using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) can be more specific in determining RBC transfusion needs in the preterm population than relying on Hgb values derived from a blood sample. Using a model to calculate the splanchnic to cerebral oxygenation ratio (SCOR) [splanchnic rSO2 / cerebral rSO2] could predict with a high probability if preterm infants would improve clinically after a RBC transfusion. Infants with a low SCOR, who were in a physiologic state in which blood and oxygen were being diverted away from the gastrointestinal tract, usually benefited after transfusion. Neonates with a high SCOR, in which oxygen saturation in gut tissue was relatively constant with brain tissue, were unlikely to improve with transfusion.

The intent of this study is to determine whether the SCOR assessment (performed in addition to traditional measurement of Hbg) can better predict which premature infants will benefit from RBC transfusion in a subset of infants demonstrating signs of anemia before having reached the transfusion threshold of a restrictive transfusion protocol. The goal is to assess whether this additional assessment of oxygen delivery (SCOR) can safely reduce the rate of transfusion in a group of subjects treated on a restrictive protocol compared with those transfused using a liberal transfusion protocol. The hypothesis is that by incorporating a measure of transfusion need, SCOR, to the clinical management of a group of preterm infants following a restrictive guideline approach, we can still reduce the average number of transfusions that these infants receive compared to a similar group of preterm infants managed with a liberal approach, yet have no difference in morbidity, including neurological outcomes.

This study is designed as a prospective randomized controlled trial. Preterm infants less than 30 weeks gestational age and 500-1250 grams in weight will be recruited and enrolled into the study during day of life 0 to 3. Study participants will be randomly assigned into two groups: a restrictive transfusion group and a liberal transfusion group. In the liberal group, RBC transfusions will be given to subjects when their Hgb level falls below defined values that are based on respiratory support status. In the restrictive group, RBC transfusions will be given to subjects either when their Hgb level falls below defined values based on respiratory status or, despite not having reached their Hgb trigger threshold, if they manifest symptoms judged by the clinical care team to be consistent with anemia (i.e. apnea, bradycardia, or desaturation episodes) and subsequently have a near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) evaluation that demonstrates an SCOR < 0.73.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 10
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • New York
    • New York, New York, United States, 10016
      • NYU Langone Medical Center
    • New York, New York, United States, 10016
      • Bellevue Hospital Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: No older than 3 days (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Inborn patients (NYULMC and Bellevue Hospital) less than or equal to 30 weeks gestational age
• Less than 1250 grams
• Less than 72 hours old at time of parental consent and study inclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

• Preterm neonates with 5 minute Apgar score < 3, 10 minute Apgar score < 5, congenital heart disease, alloimmune hemolytic disease, known chromosomal abnormalities, or major malformations will be excluded.
• Preterm neonates with a birth weight of less than 500 grams will also be excluded
• Any patient already diagnosed with intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), hydrocephalus or a surgical condition prior to recruitment into the study will be excluded.
• Patients receiving high-frequency ventilation at the time of recruitment will be excluded.
• Any preterm infant who has already received > 2 RBC transfusions prior to enrollment will be excluded.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Restrictive transfusion group	Other: Restrictive transfusions based on SCOR assessment; RBC transfusions will be given to subjects either when participants' Hgb levels fall below defined values based on respiratory status or, despite not having reached their Hgb trigger threshold, if they manifest symptoms judged by the clinical care team to be consistent with anemia (i.e. apnea, bradycardia, or desaturation episodes) and subsequently have a NIRS evaluation that demonstrates an SCOR < 0.73.
Active Comparator: Liberal transfusion group	Other: Liberal transfusions; In the liberal group, RBC transfusions will be given to participants when their Hgb level falls below defined values that are based on respiratory support status, as is standard practice.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Average number of RBC transfusions received during neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stay	Throughout the duration of NICU stay (around 3 months, varies based on infant's overall health)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Presence of common morbidities of prematurity	Common morbidities to be assessed are: Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD), and Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC)	Throughout the duration of NICU stay (around 3 months, varies based on infant's overall health)
Difference in growth (weight) between the two groups at various timepoints	Investigators will measure differences in both short term and long term physical growth parameters (weight) based upon NICU discharge and return examinations at our NICU follow-up clinic which normally occur every 6 months after discharge for up to 3 years of age.	At time of NICU dischare (about 3 months), and every 6 months for 3 years
Difference in growth (length) between the two groups at various timepoints	Investigators will measure differences in both short term and long term physical growth parameters (length) based upon NICU discharge and return examinations at our NICU follow-up clinic which normally occur every 6 months after discharge for up to 3 years of age.	At time of NICU discharge (about 3 months), and every 6 months for 3 years
Difference in growth (head circumference) between the two groups at various timepoints	Investigators will measure differences in both short term and long term physical growth parameters (head circumference) based upon NICU discharge and return examinations at our NICU follow-up clinic which normally occur every 6 months after discharge for up to 3 years of age.	At time of NICU discharge (about 3 months), and every 6 months for 3 years
Difference in development between the two groups	Developmental outcome will be assessed using the Mullen Scales of Early Learning Test.	When participant reaches 2 years of age

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: NYU Langone Health
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Sean M Bailey, MD, NYU Medical Center

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 16, 2016
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 3, 2018
• Study Completion (Actual): October 3, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 18, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 26, 2015
• First Posted (Estimate): August 28, 2015

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 19, 2018
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 18, 2018
• Last Verified: October 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pregnancy Complications; Obstetric Labor Complications; Obstetric Labor, Premature; Premature Birth
• Other Study ID Numbers: 14-01514