Effects of Donor-recipient Sex-matched Blood Transfusion on Patient Outcomes

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Sex-mismatched red blood cell transfusions: Sex-mismatched red blood cell transfusions

Sex-matched red blood cell transfusions: Sex-matched red blood cell transfusions

Study summary

Red blood cell (RBC) transfusions are selected based upon matching donor and recipient blood group: donor and recipient sex are not considered when selecting blood for transfusion. Hence, transfused patients can currently receive sex-matched and/or unmatched RBCs when transfusions are given. Sex-matched stem cell transplants, and some solid organ transplants, have shown that sex-matching donor to recipient improves patient outcomes. Recent exploratory studies have also suggested that patient outcomes could be improved by sex-matching for RBC transfusion. There is emerging evidence of underlying biologic mechanism(s) to support these observations. This study is designed as a randomized controlled trial and will explore the impact on patients who receive RBC transfusions from donors of the same sex ("sex-matched") compared with donors of the opposite sex ("sex-mismatched").

The trial will study adult patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit who require an RBC transfusion. Patients will be assigned (through a process called randomization) to receive sex-matched RBCs or sex-mismatched RBCs to determine if there is a difference in mortality between those receiving matched versus mismatched RBCs. The results of this trial could have direct implications on resources, blood inventory, and RBC transfusion ordering practices.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• 30 day mortality — From randomization to 30 days post-randomization.
  Death within 30 days of randomization.

Trial sites (8)

Other trials for the same condition