The relationship of red blood cell transfusion to intestinal mucosal injury in premature infants.

Objective: To determine the incidence of intestinal mucosal injury before and after transfusions in premature infants.

Study Design: Urine was collected throughout the hospital stay of 62 premature infants and specimens obtained within 24h before and after transfusion were assayed for intestinal fatty acid binding protein (iFABP). A urinary iFABP:creatinine ratio (iFABP:Cr) of 2.