Preoperative parenteral iron administration could be a safe and effective way to reduce the ABT requirements in DSHF patients. This reduction in the ABT requirements is accompanied by a reduction in the morbid-mortality rate and LOS. A large, randomised, controlled trial to confirm these results is warranted.

The blood-saving protocol implemented seems to reduce ABT requirements in patients with HF, and is associated with a lower postoperative morbidity. The possible mechanisms involved in these effects are discussed.

No abstract

Physical activities and bone disease grade 1 and 3 are negatively related to QOL. Nevertheless no correlation was found with bone pain crisis, possibly due to the transitory character of this event. In spite of the improvement induced by ERT, a quarter of patients remained with physical limitations related to bone disease as well as in need of orthopaedic correction of bone sequelae. In order to improve the QOL an accurate evaluation of bone disease to define therapeutic approaches must be considered.