Summary
This study is looking at whether giving smaller amounts (low dose) of red blod cells (RBC) more often (weekly) can keep haemoglobin levels more stable for people with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). This might improve symptoms and quality of life.
You may be eligible for this study if:
- you are an adult with MDS or mixed myeloproliferative/myelodysplastic neoplasm overlap syndrome (MPN/MDS), and
- you need regular blood transfusions (at least 2 transfusions and 4 units of RBC in the past 16 weeks).
Study details
All eligible participants will be randomly allocated (by chance) to one of two treatment arms:
- the usual care Arm A (continue with their standard treatment)
- the Intervention Group Arm B.
The Arm B intervention will involve weekly RBC transfusion using phenotype/genotype matched red blood cells. The number of units per week will be individualised for each patient in the intervention group.
All participants involved will experience both treatment arms during the study.
Participants will attend weekly transfusions for 6 weeks. The assessment will involve quality of life questionnaires and blood tests.
It is possible that maintaining a more stable haemoglobin between transfusions, by transfusing a smaller number of RBCs weekly, may improve quality of life of participants and reduce symptoms.
REDDS2 is a collaborative study with the UK National Health Service Blood and Transplant (UK NHSBT) and will inform the design and conduct of a larger trial that will compare red blood cell transfusion strategies in people with transfusino-dependent MDS.