Background: Haem levels are associated with thrombosis in a variety of diseases, as well as being a contributing cause of thrombotic events in animal models.
Materials and methods: We retrospectively analyzed samples from 39 children who underwent cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, including 15 children who developed a postoperative thrombosis and 24 controls.
Results: Patients who developed thrombosis postoperatively had statistically significant higher average haem levels over time (presurgery to 12 h postsurgery) compared to patients who did not develop thrombosis.
Conclusion: Higher cell-free total haem levels are associated with a higher risk of thrombosis in a paediatric cardiac surgical cohort.
Keywords: hemostasis; red cell components; transfusion - pediatrics; transfusion - surgery.
© 2017 International Society of Blood Transfusion.