Red blood cell transfusion: a clinical practice guideline from the AABB (American Association of Blood Banks)

RECOMMENDATION 1:

The AABB recommends adhering to a restrictive transfusion strategy (7 to 8 g/dL) in hospitalized, stable patients (Grade: strong recommendation; high-quality evidence).

RECOMMENDATION 2:

The AABB suggests adhering to a restrictive strategy in hospitalized patients with preexisting cardiovascular disease and considering transfusion for patients with symptoms or a hemoglobin level of 8 g/dL or less (Grade: weak recommendation; moderate-quality evidence).

RECOMMENDATION 3:

The AABB cannot recommend for or against a liberal or restrictive transfusion threshold for hospitalized, hemodynamically stable patients with the acute coronary syndrome (Grade: uncertain recommendation; very low-quality evidence).

RECOMMENDATION 4:

The AABB suggests that transfusion decisions be influenced by symptoms as well as hemoglobin concentration (Grade: weak recommendation; low-quality evidence).
 

Reference:

Red blood cell transfusion: a clinical practice guideline from the AABB.

Ann Intern Med. 2012 Jul 3;157(1):49-58.