# Irradiated red blood cell transfusion is associated with an increased incidence of deep vein thrombosis in trauma patients: a cohort study

## TL;DR

This study found that trauma patients who received irradiated red blood cells had a higher risk of developing deep vein thrombosis compared to those who received non-irradiated blood.

## Contribution

The study is the first to show a link between irradiated red blood cell transfusion and increased deep vein thrombosis risk in trauma patients.

## Key findings

- Irradiated RBC transfusion was associated with a 2.48-fold higher risk of DVT after adjusting for confounders.
- Subgroup analysis showed that longer storage days and higher percentage of irradiated RBCs increased DVT risk.
- The DVT incidence was significantly higher in the irradiation group (38.5%) than in the nonirradiation group (22.4%).

## Abstract

Gamma-ray irradiation accelerates the release of red blood cell (RBC)-derived microparticles with procoagulant function, and further promotes the formation of microthrombosis. The use of irradiated RBCs in trauma patients is usually not prohibited. At present, the association that irradiated RBC transfusion and incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) remains unclear.

This retrospective cohort study included 251 trauma patients between January 2019 and April 2023 at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University. The cohort included 147 patients who were only transfused with nonirradiated RBCs (nonirradiation group) and 104 patients who were transfused with irradiated RBCs with or without nonirradiated RBCs (irradiation group). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors for DVT.

The incidence of DVT was higher in the irradiation group than in the nonirradiation group (38.5% vs. 22.4%, p = 0.006), and irradiated RBC transfusion was associated with an increased incidence of DVT in the univariate analysis (OR 2.16, 95% CI: 1.25–3.77, p = 0.006). After adjusting for potential confounders by multivariate analysis, irradiated RBC transfusion appeared to be a risk factor for DVT (OR 2.48, 95% CI: 1.34–4.65, p = 0.004). Subgroup analysis revealed that the median storage days of irradiated RBCs and the percentage of irradiated RBCs in total transfused RBCs were positively association with the incidence of DVT (OR 2.95 and 3.19, respectively, both p < 0.05).

Irradiated RBC transfusion was associated with an increased incidence of DVT in trauma patients. Irradiated RBC transfusion in trauma patients might need to be reconsidered.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12871-025-03238-0.