chronic transfusion therapy
Long-term regular blood transfusions administered to prevent complications in patients with severe sickle cell disease or thalassemia major.
Full Definition
Chronic transfusion therapy involves regularly scheduled blood transfusions, typically every 3-4 weeks, to maintain specific hemoglobin levels and reduce the percentage of sickle cells in patients with sickle cell disease, or to treat anemia in thalassemia major patients. In sickle cell disease, the goal is usually to maintain HbS below 30% to prevent stroke recurrence or other severe complications. For thalassemia major, transfusions aim to maintain hemoglobin levels above 9-10 g/dL to suppress ineffective erythropoiesis and prevent bone deformities. This therapy requires careful monitoring for iron overload, alloimmunization, and transfusion reactions, necessitating concurrent chelation therapy and extended red cell antigen matching.
Usage
Usage note: Specify goals (HbS percentage, target hemoglobin) and monitoring requirements when documenting.
In Context
- "The patient was started on chronic transfusion therapy following a silent stroke detected on MRI." — pediatric neurology consultation
- "Chronic transfusion therapy requires coordination between hematology and transfusion medicine services." — multidisciplinary care plan