Packed red blood cells

General

• Type:
• Dosage Forms:
• Common Trade Names:

Adult Dosing

• One unit (250mL) raises hemoglobin by 1 g/dl
  • Usually transfuse at least 2 units at a time (15mL/kg in peds)
• Must transfuse no slower than 1 unit/4hr
  • If require slower transfusion (e.g. risk for volume overload) the pRBC can be split

Special Populations

• Pregnancy Rating:
• Lactation:
• Renal Dosing
  • Adult
  • Pediatric
• Hepatic Dosing
  • Adult
  • Pediatric

Features

• Can give type O Rh-positive pRBCs to a man or woman no longer of child-bearing age
• Options:
  • Leukocyte reduced
    • Eliminates 70-85% of leukocytes
    • Reduces nonhemolytic febrile reactions
    • Prevents sensitization in pts who may require bone marrow transplant
    • Minimizes risk of HIV and CMV infection
  • Irradiated
    • Eliminates capacity of T-cells to proliferate (prevents graft-versus-host disease)
    • Consider in transplant pts, neonates and immunocompromised patients
  • Washed
    • Indicated for pts w/ hypersensitivity to plasma (such as IgA deficiency)

Indications

• Acute hemorrhage or chronic anemia with Hb <6
• Symptomatic anemia or cardiopulmonary disease AND Hb <10

Contraindications

• Allergy to class/drug

Pharmacology

• Half-life:
• Metabolism:
• Excretion:
• Mechanism of Action:

See Also

• Transfusions