Impact of Feeding on Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Response in Neonates Receiving a RBC Transfusion

Recently many publications have indicated a potential temporal association between packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusion and the development of NEC in neonates. Although, to date, there is no conclusive evidence indicating a causal role of PRBC transfusion on the development of NEC. Given the growing body of data that support the association of PRBC transfusions and NEC, a common clinical dilemma arises with regard to feeding infants during a blood transfusion. Additionally, it is thought that increased immunomodulation may be exacerbated by any other pro-inflammatory process or insult; thereby leading to a rapidly increasing cascade of pro-inflammatory cytokines which may ultimately lead to gut inflammation and NEC.

Prior to a non-urgent PRBC transfusion, subjects will be randomized to either the NPO group or fed group of patients. The intervention will be the placement of a subject in the NPO group. Subjects will be made NPO for a total of 24 hours around the time of the PRBC transfusion. During the transfusion, both groups of subjects will have serum cytokine levels obtained at 3 time intervals- 1) 4 hours pre-transfusion, 2) 2-4 hours post-transfusion, and 3) 20-24 hours post-transfusion.