Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
Extremely low gestational age neonates (ELGANs, i.e., neonates born before 28 weeks of gestation) are at high risk of developing retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), with potential long-life visual impairment. Due to concomitant anemia, ELGANs need repeated red blood cell (RBC) transfusions. These produce a progressive replacement of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) by adult hemoglobin (HbA). Furthermore, a close association exists between low levels of HbF and severe ROP, suggesting that a perturbation of the HbF-mediated oxygen release may derange retinal angiogenesis and promote ROP.Methods/design
BORN (umBilical blOod to tRansfuse preterm Neonates) is a multicenter double-blinded randomized controlled trial in ELGANs, to assess the effect of allogeneic cord blood RBC transfusions (CB-RBCs) on severe ROP development. Recruitment, consent, and randomization take place at 10 neonatology intensive care units (NICUs) of 8 Italian tertiary hospitals. ELGANs with gestational age at birth comprised between 24+0 and 27+6 weeks are randomly allocated into two groups: (1) standard RBC transfusions (adult-RBCs) (control arm) and (2) CB-RBCs (intervention arm). In case of transfusion need, enrolled patients receive transfusions according to the allocation arm, unless an ABO/RhD CB-RBC is unavailable. Nine Italian public CB banks cooperate to make available a suitable amount of CB-RBC units for all participating NICUs. The primary outcome is the incidence of severe ROP (stage 3 or higher) at discharge or 40 weeks of postmenstrual age, which occurs first.Discussion
BORN is a groundbreaking trial, pioneering a new transfusion approach dedicated to ELGANs at high risk for severe ROP. In previous non-randomized trials, this transfusion approach was proven feasible and able to prevent the HbF decrease in patients requiring multiple transfusions. Should the BORN trial confirm the efficacy of CB-RBCs in reducing ROP severity, this transfusion strategy would become the preferential blood product to be used in severely preterm neonates.Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05100212. Registered on October 29, 2021.
SUBMITTER: Teofili L
PROVIDER: S-EPMC9746198 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Teofili Luciana L Papacci Patrizia P Orlando Nicoletta N Bianchi Maria M Pasciuto Tina T Mozzetta Iolanda I Palluzzi Fernando F Giacò Luciano L Giannantonio Carmen C Remaschi Giulia G Santosuosso Michela M Beccastrini Enrico E Fabbri Marco M Valentini Caterina Giovanna CG Bonfini Tiziana T Cloclite Eleonora E Accorsi Patrizia P Dragonetti Antonella A Cresi Francesco F Ansaldi Giulia G Raffaeli Genny G Villa Stefania S Pucci Giulia G Mondello Isabella I Santodirocco Michele M Ghirardello Stefano S Vento Giovanni G
Trials 20221213 1
<h4>Background</h4>Extremely low gestational age neonates (ELGANs, i.e., neonates born before 28 weeks of gestation) are at high risk of developing retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), with potential long-life visual impairment. Due to concomitant anemia, ELGANs need repeated red blood cell (RBC) transfusions. These produce a progressive replacement of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) by adult hemoglobin (HbA). Furthermore, a close association exists between low levels of HbF and severe ROP, suggesting that ...[more]