Blood Component as a Gamechanger

Red blood cells are an important component in the body that helps in the transportation of oxygen to the body’s tissues and carry back carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs. Red blood cells transfusion helps in improving oxygen delivery to the tissues by treating various diseases. Here is list of few diseases 

ANEMIA

Anemia is a significant public health challenge in India. It has devastating effects on health, physical and mental productivity affecting the quality of life. The prevalence of anaemia among six groups as per the National Family Health Survey 5 (2019-21), is 25.0 % in men (15-49 years) and 57.0 % in women (15-49 years). 31.1 % in adolescent boys (15-19 yrs), 59.1 % in adolescent girls,52.2 % in pregnant women (15-49 years) and 67.1 % in children (6-59 months). Severe iron deficiency anemia may require blood transfusion. Blood transfusion can be a  key part of treatment for people with anemia when necessary.

THALASSEMIA

India has the largest number of children with Thalassemia major in the world – about 1 to 1.5 lakhs and almost 42 million carriers of ß (beta) thalassemia trait. About 10,000 -15,000 babies with thalassemia major are born every year. People with thalassemia need regular blood transfusions because their body makes such low amounts of hemoglobin. Regular blood transfusions are administered every two to five weeks, to maintain the pretransfusion haemoglobin level above 9–10.5 g/dl (decilitre).

SICKLE CELL DISEASE

Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is another hemoglobin disorder that requires lifelong management and contributes to infant and childhood morbidity and mortality. Sickle cell syndromes include Sickle Cell Disease, also called Sickle Cell Anemia. Sickle cell anemia affects approx. 7  crores  people in  tribal population . prevalence of sickle gene is found to be 0-18% in north eastern India, 0-33.5% in western India, 22.5-44.4% in central India and 1-40% in southern India and the gene frequency of Hb-S varies between 0.031- 0.41. Altogether, India has been ranked the country with the second highest numbers of predicted SCD births, with 42,016  newborns estimated to have been born with sickle cell anaemia in 2010. In sickle cell disease patients, a blood transfusion is used to provide normal red blood cells to the patient's body. Red blood cell transfusions help lessen anemia and reduce the blood's viscosity, allowing it to flow more freely. In sickle cell disease patients, a blood transfusion is used to provide normal red blood cells to the patient's body. Red blood cell transfusions help lessen anemia and reduce the blood's viscosity, allowing it to flow more freely.

CANCER

Blood transfusions are commonly necessary for cancer patients, especially those diagnosed with cancer originating in the bone marrow and cancers of the digestive system can lead to internal bleeding. If someone is recently diagnosed with cancer after a CT chest scan, then they may find theirself in need of chemotherapy, surgery, and possibly blood transfusions. Red blood cells are essential for keeping oxygen flowing throughout the body and picking up oxygen from the lungs. RBC Transfusion improves oxygen carrying capacity blood flow blood viscosity and intravascular hemolysis by increasing concentration of haemoglobin.

ACUTE BLOOD LOSS

Heavy blood loss of 15%–20% of their blood volume from an injury, trauma or accidents can lead to iron deficiency anemia which can require RBC transfusion. RBC transfusion helps in improving tissue oxygenation by increasing cell mass and blood volume after blood loss.

PREGNANCY

Most often, the transfusion required for pregnant and recently pregnant women only involves red blood cells. If a woman has a hemoglobin count lower than 7 g/dl and are 34 weeks along in your pregnancy or more, there is possibility of transfusion.

SURGERY

About 60 million surgeries are performed in the country every year along with almost 230 million major operations requiring transfusion. RBC transfusion is done during or after surgery to make up for the blood loss.

GASTROINTESTINAL BLEEDING

 Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding is a common emergency condition leading to high mortality. Gastrointestinal Bleeding  (GIB) affects 2-15% of the total population. Upper GIB (UGIB) is  a common problem that is estimated to occur in 80 to 150 out of 100,000 people each year.  It is a frequent indication for red-cell transfusion because acute blood loss can decrease tissue perfusion and the delivery of oxygen to tissues.

HEMORRHAGE

Postpartum hemorrhage may result from various reasons such as failure of the uterus to contract adequately, genital tract trauma, uterine rupture, retained placental tissue, or maternal bleeding disorders. Uterine atony, the primary cause of PPH, accounts for 70% to 80% of all hemorrhage 70% Postpartum hemorrhage(PPH) occurs due to lack of immediate availability of blood. Red blood cell transfusions are used to treat haemorrhage and to improve oxygen delivery to tissues.

HEMOGLOBINOPATHIES

Hemoglobin orders are the most common single-gene order which includes abnormal variant hemoglobin'ssuch as Hemoglobin S, C, E etc.  HbSis highly prevalent in the tribal populations of Southern, Central and Western states reaching as high as 48% in some communities, HbEis common in the North Eastern states, and has a carrier frequency as high as 50%, in some areas while Hbis present in about 2% of people in Punjab. RBC transfusion in patients with hemoglobinopathies increases the patient’s hemoglobinand iron levels while improving the amount of oxygen in the body.