Efficacy, recovery, and safety of RBCs from autologous placental blood: clinical experience in 52 newborns.

Background: In the present study, the efficacy, recovery, and safety of RBCs from autologous placental blood (PB-RBCs) were investigated.
Study Design and Methods: A total of 52 newborns received transfusion with PB-RBCs. The number of newborns requiring no additional allogeneic RBCs was calculated. In 22 of these 52 neonates with a birth weight of 1000 to 2500 g, vital measures were performed during transfusion, and serum potassium levels were measured up to 3 days after transfusion. The results were compared with those of a matched control group given allogeneic RBC transfusions.
Results: All neonates of the study group with a birth weight of less than 1000 g, but only 59 percent those with a birth weight of 1000 to 2500 g and 58 percent of those requiring surgery directly after delivery needed allogeneic transfusions in addition to PB-RBCs. The mean Hb increase after RBC transfusion of 10 mL per kg of body weight was 3 g per dL per kg of body weight in both groups; the Hb decrease was accelerated in the placental blood group (0.32 vs. 0.24 g/dL/day; p < 0.05). There were no intergroup differences in the vital parameters.
Conclusion: Our results show no difference in efficacy and safety between PB-RBC transfusion and allogeneic RBC transfusion. According to well-defined criteria, 40 percent of anemic neonates can be supported by autologous placental blood transfusions alone.