Personalizing Preterm Neonatal Transfusions With Fetal Hemoglobin-Enriched Cord Blood

Long-term morbidities among very low birth weight infants remain a significant challenge. Oxidative stress is a key factor in the pathogenesis of 'free radical (FR) diseases of prematurity,' including retinopathy of prematurity, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, necrotizing enterocolitis, and intraventricular hemorrhage. Red blood cell (RBC) transfusions are recognized as a contributing factor to FR-related diseases. RBCs contain adult hemoglobin (HbA), which has a lower affinity for oxygen. This characteristic increases oxygen delivery and tissue uptake, leading to a potentially harmful state of hyperoxia and over-generation of FRs. The strategy employs a multidisciplinary approach to evaluate the impact of cord blood transfusions in anemic newborns. Results will be assessed in relation to short- and long-term neonatal outcomes to determine the effectiveness of this new preventive strategy. Improving the current data are critical for setting action priorities for and monitoring progress