Granulocyte transfusion: questions remain

Abstract

In this issue of Blood, Price et al report the results of a phase 3 prospective randomized trial comparing the clinical outcome of infected, severely neutropenic patients after receiving or not receiving granulocyte transfusions.

Survival to 42 days by dose group of patients enrolled in the RING trial. The high-dose group (n = 29) included all subjects in the transfusion arm who received a mean dose of ≥0.6 × 10⁹ granulocytes/kg and transfusion and had data available on the primary outcome (red line); the low-dose group (n = 13) included all subjects in the transfusion arm who received a mean dose of <0.6 × 109 granulocytes/kg and transfusion and had data on the primary outcome (blue line); the control group for this comparison (n = 43) included subjects in the control arm who received no transfusions and had data on the primary outcome (black line). The figure is a modification of Figure 6 in the article by Price et al that begins on page 2153. Figure prepared by Patrick Lane, ScEYEnce Studios.