Predictive Role of Blood Group, Rh Factor and Gestational Age in Transfusion Reaction in Neonates

Background. Transfusion therapy represents a rational model of therapy which is frequently used in neonatal period. Aim.to investigate predictive role of blood group, Rh factor and gestational age in transfusions reaction in neonates. Patients and methods. we evaluated 95 neonates gestational age between 28 and 42 weeks treated with blood components. All neonates were treated in the Unit of Neonatology at Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at University Clinical Center Tuzla in the period of 01.01.2006.-31.12.2008. Results. During the period of investigation there were 12 526 born neonates gestational age from 28 to 42 weeks. Incidence of transfusion reaction was 0, 37%. The median of gestational age in the complete sample was 38 weeks, with interquartile range from 35 to 39 weeks, with 28 weeks minimum and 40 weeks maximum. The incidence of transfusion reaction in relation with the blood group was most evident in recipients in blood group type A, but there were no statistically significant differences in incidence of transfusion reactions between four blood groups (X2=6.352; df=3; p=0.097). There was no statistically significant difference in incidence of transfusion reaction according to the Rh factor (X2=0.755; df=1; p=0.385). Investigation of transfusion reaction according to the blood group and Rh factor showed no statistically significant difference (X2=8.063; df=7; p=0.327). The logistic regressional analyses showed that the gestational age is significant predictor of appearance of transfusion reaction (OR=0.867; %95 CI=0.756 do 0.993; p=0.04). Conclusion. Transfusion reactions in neonates are not rare. The blood group and Rh factor are not valid in prediction of transfusion reaction while the gestational age is good predictor in appearance of transfusion reaction.