OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the stability of serum hemoglobin concentration after packaged red blood cell units (PRBC) transfusion.

MATERIAL AND METHOD:

A prospective analytical cohort was done from September 2015 to May 2016 including patients older than 18 years who were enrolled with the diagnosis of anemia that was corrected by PRBC transfusion (n = 121). Initial serum hemoglobin concentration was quantified at one hour and six hours after PRBC transfusion with the HemoCue B Hemoglobin device. The stability of post-transfusion serum hemoglobin was evaluated. A change in serum hemoglobin concentration > 0.5 g/dL was considered significant.

RESULTS:

The main diagnoses were sepsis (60.3%), chronic kidney disease (31.4%) and hematologic cancer (24.8%). The initial mean serum hemoglobin was 6.9 ± 4.4 g/ dL, at one hour 9.2 ± 1.5 g/dL and 9.19 ± 1.5 g/dL at 6 hours following PRBC transfusion. The difference in hemoglobin concentration was -0.007 g/dL (p = 0.94). Using a logistic regression model the stability of serum hemoglobin concentration over time was documented.

CONCLUSION:

The hemoglobin concentration following PRBC transfusion is stable over time, and is not affected by concomitant diseases, number of PRBC units administered and anthropometric variables.