Receipt of low titer group O whole blood does not lead to hemolysis in children weighing less than 20 kilograms.

OBJECTIVE: The safety of Low Titer Group O Whole Blood (LTOWB) transfusion has not been well-studied in small children.

METHODS: This is a single-center retrospective cohort study of pediatric recipients of RhD- LTOWB (June 2016-October 2022) who weigh less than 20 kilograms. Biochemical markers of hemolysis (lactate dehydrogenase, total bilirubin, haptoglobin, and reticulocyte count) and renal function (creatinine and potassium) were recorded on the day of LTOWB transfusion and post-transfusion days 1 and 2. Group O and non-Group O recipients were compared.

RESULTS: Twenty-one children were included. Their median (IQR) weight was 12 kg (12-18) with minimum 2.8 kg, and median (IQR) age was 3 years (1.75-5.00) with minimum 0.08 years (29 days old). The most common indication for transfusion was trauma (17/21; 81%). The median (IQR) volume of LTOWB transfused was 30 mL/kg (20-42). There were 9 non-group O and 12 group O recipients. There were no statistically significant differences in the median concentrations of any of the biochemical markers of hemolysis or the renal function markers between the non-group O and the group O recipients at any of the three time points (p>0.05 for all comparisons). There were also no statistically significant differences in demographic parameters or clinical outcomes including 28-day mortality, length of stay, ventilator days, and venous thromboembolism between the groups. No transfusion reactions were reported in either group.

CONCLUSION: These data suggest LTOWB use is safe in children weighing less than 20 kg. Further multi-centre studies and larger cohorts are needed to confirm these results.