Echocardiographic studies in anaemic patients before and after blood transfusions.

Echocardiographic studies were undertaken in 15 patients with acute blood loss and 15 patients with chronic anaemia, before and after blood transfusion. Clinically adequate blood transfusions resulted in a 5 mm increase in mean left ventricular internal dimensions at end systole in those with acute blood loss and a 3 mm increase in those with chronic anaemia. None of these patients developed acute pulmonary oedema. This study provides base-line data for changes in ventricular dimension resulting from the standard medical management of patients with acute and chronic blood loss. Functional aortic valvular insufficiency was documented in some cases and pericardial effusion resolving after blood transfusion was common.