Blood donation intended for the transfusion of anemic premature infants

: Between July 3rd 1990 and January 4th 1993, directed blood transfusion was authorized in neonatology in France. In 1991 and 1992, anemia of prematurity was treated at Lenval hospital by directed blood transfusion. 60 preterm infants with non immune mediated anemia received 85 transfusions, 24.7% of them being provided from parental blood. 26.7% of these 60 infants were transfused only with familial blood. Although authors and parents found these preliminary results very encouraging, directed blood transfusion has been forbidden in France since January 4th 1993. It is believed that such a transfusion does not solve many problems (ie: methodological, material, moral, ethical), and the risk of transmitted infections diseases seems not to be decreased. Therefore traditional transfusion using anonymous donors is recommended.