A pilot study evaluating the effects of prestorage leukoreduction on markers of inflammation in critically ill dogs receiving a blood transfusion.

Objectives: To compare markers of inflammation after transfusion of leukoreduced (LR) packed RBCs (pRBCs) versus non-LR pRBCs in dogs with critical illness requiring blood transfusion, and to report survival to discharge and rates of transfusion reactions in these dogs.

Design: Prospective randomized blinded clinical study June 2014-September 2015.

Setting: University veterinary teaching hospital.