Transfusion Dependency in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia during Induction Chemotherapy

Background: Blood transfusion is frequently performed as a supportive therapy during the diagnosis and chemotherapy of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This study examined the frequency of blood transfusion and analyzed the correlation with the treatment response during induction therapy in patients with AML. Methods: From January 2018 to December 2020, blood transfusion information was collected from 23 patients diagnosed with AML during induction therapy. The frequency and volumes of blood transfusions according to the treatment response were collected and analyzed with the overall survival retrospectively. Results: The blood transfusion was performed in all patients with AML during induction therapy. The transfusion frequency and volumes were a median of five (1∼13) times and nine (2∼27) units for red blood cells, respectively. In the platelets, the median frequency was seven (2∼21) times, and the transfusion volumes were 42 (12∼128) units. At the time of the treatment response evaluation, the transfusion dependence was 0% in morphological complete remission and 20% in the morphological leukemic-free state for both RBC and platelets, and 78% for RBC and 67% for platelets in treatment failure. Although not statistically significant, transfusion independence for more than eight weeks after induction therapy showed a better overall survival (P=0.312). Conclusion: When the treatment response was good, the dependence on blood transfusion decreased. The transfusion frequency is expected to help predict the patient's treatment response and prognosis along with the peripheral blood counts. (Korean J Blood Transfus 2021;32:35-42)