Cochrane · systematic review · CD003146

Blood transfusion for preventing primary and secondary stroke in people with sickle cell disease

Estcourt, LJ, Kohli, R, Hopewell, S, et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2020 · Cochrane Library

Cystic Fibrosis and Genetic Disorders2 versionsAMSTAR 2: not assessed
SoF tableOnly the outcomes this review put in its Summary of Findings table are listed (the Cochrane Handbook caps them at about seven per comparison). Its other analyses are not shown here.
Questions
28
current version
GRADE rated
19
No studies
6
Included studies
NR
No studies 6 · 21.4%Ungraded 3 · 10.7%Very low 13 · 46.4%Low 5 · 17.9%Moderate 1 · 3.6%High 0 · 0%

Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.

Questions and results

Show all 2 versions

Long‐term red cell transfusion versus no transfusion in people who are at risk of a primary stroke who have not had previous long‐term red cell transfusions

Population: individuals with sickle cell disease who are at risk of a primary stroke who have not had previous long‐term red cell transfusions
7 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Clinical stroke
Long‐term red cell transfusion vs no transfusion
RR 0.12 [0.03, 0.49]2 studies · 326 participantsModerate
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness
All‐cause mortality
Long‐term red cell transfusion vs no transfusion
no estimate extracted2 studies · 326 participantsVery low
Downgraded: imprecision
Adverse events associated with transfusion
Long‐term red cell transfusion vs no transfusion
RR 3.16 [0.18, 57.17]1 study · 121 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness
TIA
Long‐term red cell transfusion vs no transfusion
Peto OR 0.13 [0.01, 2.11]2 studies · 323 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness
Serious adverse events as a result of sickle cell‐related complications
Long‐term red cell transfusion vs no transfusion
RR 0.24 [0.12, 0.48]2 studies · 326 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness
Measures of neurological impairment
Long‐term red cell transfusion vs no transfusion
no estimate extracted1 study · 166 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness
Quality of life
Long‐term red cell transfusion vs no transfusion
no estimate extracted1 study · 196 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness

Long‐term red cell transfusion versus no transfusion in people who are at risk of a primary stroke who have had previous long‐term red cell transfusions

Population: individuals with sickle cell disease who are at risk of a primary stroke who have had long‐term red cell transfusions to prevent a stroke
7 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Clinical stroke
Long‐term red cell transfusion vs no transfusion
RR 0.22 [0.01, 4.35]1 study · 79 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias
All‐cause mortality
Long‐term red cell transfusion vs no transfusion
Peto OR 8 [0.16, 404.12]1 study · 79 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias
Adverse events associated with transfusion
Long‐term red cell transfusion vs no transfusion
no estimate extracted1 study · 79 participantsUngraded
TIA
Long‐term red cell transfusion vs no transfusion
no estimate extracted1 study · 79 participantsUngraded
Serious adverse events as a result of sickle cell‐related complications
Long‐term red cell transfusion vs no transfusion
no estimate extracted1 study · 79 participantsUngraded
Measures of neurological impairment ‐ not reported
Long‐term red cell transfusion vs no transfusion
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Quality of life ‐ not reported
Long‐term red cell transfusion vs no transfusion
no estimate extractedNRNo studies

Long‐term red cell transfusion versus hydroxyurea and phlebotomy in people who are at risk of a primary stroke who have had previous long‐term red cell transfusions

Population: individuals with sickle cell disease who are at risk of a primary stroke who have had long‐term red cell transfusions to prevent a stroke
7 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Clinical stroke
Long‐term red cell transfusion vs hydroxyurea and phlebotomy
no estimate extracted1 study · 121 participantsVery low
Downgraded: imprecision
All‐cause mortality
Long‐term red cell transfusion vs hydroxyurea and phlebotomy
no estimate extracted1 study · 121 participantsVery low
Downgraded: imprecision
Adverse events associated with transfusion
Long‐term red cell transfusion vs hydroxyurea and phlebotomy
no estimate extracted1 study · 121 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness
Incidence of TIA
Long‐term red cell transfusion vs hydroxyurea and phlebotomy
RR 1.02 [0.21, 4.84]1 study · 121 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness
Serious adverse events as a result of sickle cell‐related complications
Long‐term red cell transfusion vs hydroxyurea and phlebotomy
RR 2.03 [0.39, 10.69]1 study · 121 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness
Measures of neurological impairment ‐ not reported
Long‐term red cell transfusion vs hydroxyurea and phlebotomy
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Quality of life ‐ not reported
Long‐term red cell transfusion vs hydroxyurea and phlebotomy
no estimate extractedNRNo studies

Long‐term red cell transfusion versus hydroxyurea and phlebotomy in people who are at risk of a secondary stroke who have had previous long‐term red cell transfusions

Population: individuals with sickle cell disease who have had a stroke who have had long‐term red cell transfusions to prevent another stroke
7 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Clinical stroke
Long‐term red cell transfusion vs hydroxyurea and phlebotomy
RR 14.78 [0.86, 253.66]1 study · 133 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias
All‐cause mortality
Long‐term red cell transfusion vs hydroxyurea and phlebotomy
Peto OR 0.98 [0.06, 15.92]1 study · 133 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias
Transfusion‐related adverse events ‐
Long‐term red cell transfusion vs hydroxyurea and phlebotomy
no estimate extracted1 study · 56 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias
Incidence of TIA
Long‐term red cell transfusion vs hydroxyurea and phlebotomy
RR 0.66 [0.25, 1.74]1 study · 133 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias
Serious adverse events as a result of sickle cell‐related complications
Long‐term red cell transfusion vs hydroxyurea and phlebotomy
RR 0.33 [0.04, 3.08]1 study · 133 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias
Measures of neurological impairment ‐ not reported
Long‐term red cell transfusion vs hydroxyurea and phlebotomy
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Quality of life ‐ not reported
Long‐term red cell transfusion vs hydroxyurea and phlebotomy
no estimate extractedNRNo studies