OBJECTIVETo compare the effect of different indications of blood transfusion on the treatment and complications in anemia of prematurity, and to investigate the suitable and reasonable indication of blood transfusion for our country.

METHODSNinety six hospitalized premature infants with birth weight less than 1500g and stay in hospital equal or more than 2 weeks were enrolled in the retrospective study and divided into two groups according to different indications of blood transfusion. There are 54 cases in observation group 1 (with strict indications for transfusion) and 42 cases in observation group 2 (with loose indications for transfusion).

RESULTSIn the observation group 1, the total amount of blood transfusion \[M(P25, P75):71.0(43.25, 107.25) ml\] and the times of blood transfusion \[3.00 (2.00, 4.00) times\] are both higher than those of the observation group 2 \[36.0 (29.50, 56.25) ml and 1.50 (1.00, 2.25) times, respectively, P = 0.00 1\]. The days of mechanical ventilation and the days of continuous positive airway pressure were more in the observation group 1, but oxygen supplement in the two groups had no significant difference. In observation group 1, the incidence of intracranial hemorrhage, fungal infection rate and mortality were higher than those of the observation group 2 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAnemia of prematurity easily led to the complications, and had obvious influence on the survival of premature infants. Clinician should consider concrete conditions of every patient before blood transfusion. It has positive significance on the survival of premature infants to loosen the indication properly and make the use of blood scientifically and rationally.