Figure 1. Potential mechanisms that may explain the intestinal inflammation or injury resulting from anemia and RBC transfusion.
Abbreviations: ET1, endothelin 1; NO, nitric oxide; Th, T helper cell; TLR-4, toll-like receptor 4. Adapted from Saroha V, Josephson CD, Patel RM. Epidemiology of Necrotizing Enterocolitis: New Considerations Regarding the Influence of Red Cell Transfusions and Anemia. Clin Perinatol. 2019 Mar;46(1):101–117; with permission.