Myocardial assessment using tissue doppler imaging in preterm very low-birth weight infants before and after red blood cell transfusion

Objective:to investigate myocardial velocities in anemic very low-birth weight (vlbw) preterm infants, pre and post red blood cells transfusion using tissue doppler imaging echocardiography.study design:forty-eight vlbw preterm infants⩽34 weeks and>2 weeks old were prospectively divided: transfused symptomatic infants (hematocrit (hct)<0.30 (n=32)) and non transfused asymptomatic controls (control 1, hct >0.30 (n=9) and control 2, hct <0.30 (n=7)). echocardiography was performed before and 3–5 days after transfusion in the transfused, and the controls were studied at similar intervals. non parametric tests were used for statistical analysis.result:left ventricular (lv) systolic velocity increased (transfused (4.6±0.70 vs 6.0±0.65, p<0.01)) as did lv diastolic velocities (p<0.01) without significant difference over time in each control. the percentage change in lv velocity following transfusion correlated negatively (ρ=0.36) with pre transfusion hct.conclusion:there is a significant increase in myocardial performance following transfusion, which is related to the severity of the anemia.