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Blood is made up of liquids (called plasma) and solids consisting of red and white blood cells and platelets.
Last reviewed: February 2014
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Sickle cell anaemia is a blood disorder characterised by sickle-shaped red blood cells and abnormal haemoglobin, the protein which transports oxygen.
Read more on myVMC – Virtual Medical Centre website
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) is a rare type of cancer of the white blood cells. Learn more about causes, diagnosis and treatments with CanTeen.
Read more on CanTeen website
Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) develops when damaged myeloid white blood cells grow out of control. Learn more about causes and treatments with CanTeen.
Read more on CanTeen website
Anaemia means that there are not enough red blood cells in the blood.
Read more on Kidney Health Australia website
Iron deficiency anaemia is often due to insufficient iron in the diet. Find out about prevention and treatment.
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Anaemia describes a condition where there is a low red blood cell count or low haemoglobin level.
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Anaemia is the general name for a range of disorders affecting red blood cells. Red blood cells contain haemoglobin, which is responsible for carrying oxygen in the blood.
Read more on myVMC – Virtual Medical Centre website
Thalassaemia is a genetic blood disorder characterised by abnormal production of haemoglobin, the blood cells which transport oxygen.
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Acute myeloid leukaemia is a cancer that arises in the precursors of myeloid cells in bone marrow. In normal circumstances, these form white blood cells.
Read more on myVMC – Virtual Medical Centre website
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia is a type of bone marrow cancer which disrupts the normal balance of red and white blood cells and platelets.
Read more on myVMC – Virtual Medical Centre website
Top results
The effect of long-term red blood cell transfusions on chronic chest complications of sickle cell disease
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Researchers in The Cochrane Collaboration conducted a review of the effect of epoetin and darbepoetin for people with cancer. After searching for all relevant studies, they found 91 studies with up to 20,102 people. Their findings are summarized below:
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
The role of iron in the management of chemotherapy-induced anemia in cancer patients receiving erythropoiesis-stimulating agents
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Pregnant women may develop antibodies in response to antigens on fetal red blood cells. The antibodies that result can cross the placenta to the fetus and break down red blood cells, leading to fetal anaemia. This has become less common with the routine use of anti D immunoglobulin in pregnant women with a Rhesus D-negative blood group and no pre-existing anti-D antibodies, but remains a cause of fetal death. Currently, standard management involves monitoring antibody titres in conjunction with ultrasound assessment of fetal well-being, and the use of intrauterine transfusion when fetal anaemia is diagnosed. Unfortunately, intrauterine transfusion poses significant risks because of its inherent invasiveness and procedure-related risks, including a risk of perinatal death.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Most people who break their hip (hip fracture) are over 65 years old. Almost all hip fractures require surgery. People with hip fracture often receive red blood cell transfusions that aim to correct their anaemia (low levels of haemoglobin in the blood; haemoglobin is an oxygen-carrying molecule found within red blood cells) resulting from blood loss from their fracture or surgery. However, blood transfusion is not without risk. We aimed to look at the evidence for the use of red blood cell transfusion in people undergoing surgery for a broken hip. We wanted to find out whether and when blood transfusion is of benefit and whether there are better alternatives to transfusion for these people.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract is common, affecting up to 1 in 1000 adults per year. It leads to death in 10% to 30% of cases, depending on whether patients are admitted with bleeding or bleed whilst in hospital with something else. Patients present with vomiting of fresh or partially digested blood, or with the passage of digested blood from the bowel (melaena). They may also present with symptoms associated with low blood pressure (which can occur secondary to rapid haemorrhage), or with symptoms of anaemia. Red blood cells may be transfused to patients to improve the blood pressure, haemoglobin concentration, or both, before the cause of the bleeding is identified and treated, usually with upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Patients may also receive a transfusion after endoscopy to correct the haemoglobin concentration once the haemorrhage has been controlled. It is possible that blood transfusion (which has some serious potential adverse effects) may not always improve the patients' condition and may even make the bleeding worse.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Early versus late erythropoietin for preventing red blood cell transfusion in preterm and/or low birth weight infants
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
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