Randomised controlled trial of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficient versus non-deficient red blood cell transfusion in patients with hypoproliferative anaemia.

BACKGROUND

Recent studies revealed the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency prevalence of 7.7-10% among Thai blood donors. Transfusion of red blood cells (RBCs) from these subjects potentially causes haemolysis in recipients.

METHODS

RBC units from the National Blood Centre were sampled to assess G-6-PD levels using spectrophotometry. Patients with pure underproduction anaemia requiring blood transfusion were randomised to receive G-6-PD-deficient versus normal ABO-matched RBCs. Pre- and 48-h post-transfusion indirect bilirubin, haemoglobin, haematocrit, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and haptoglobin were measured.

RESULTS

From April 2020 to March 2021, 374 RBC units were tested for G-6-PD, and that 25 were found to be G-6-PD deficient. Twelve units of G-6-PD-deficient RBCs and 14 units of normal RBCs were given to patients who met the inclusion criteria. The median (interquartile range) increases of indirect bilirubin in G-6-PD-deficient (N = 11) versus normal RBCs (N = 13) were + 0.12 (0.27) versus + 0.01 (1.3) mg/dl, p = 0.030), respectively. The median increases of haemoglobin were 1.00 (0.50) versus + 0.80 (0.95), p = 0.910, respectively. The increases in haematocrit were 2.59 (1.9) versus 2.29 (2.1), p = 0.733, respectively. There were no significant differences in changes of LDH and haptoglobin levels and no transfusion reactions.

DISCUSSION: G-6-PD-deficient packed red cells were associated with mildly elevated indirect bilirubin after transfusion, but there was no observed clinical symptoms.