In our first installment of our Guidelines International Series, we will be examining the British Society for Haematology (BSH). As the largest haematology organization in the United Kingdom (UK), boasting over 3,000 members worldwide, BSH is the premier membership organization for haematology professionals in the UK. BSH is dedicated to promoting excellence in the study, research, and practice of haematology for the benefit of professionals and the broader public.

BSH produces a substantial number of guidelines, with ten guidelines alone already published in 2024. Below, you will find this year’s guidelines along with their respective objectives. Please note that for the sake of consistency, we will be utilizing the British spelling throughout this post for the sake of consistency.

2024 BSH Guidelines

Guideline for the Management of Conception and Pregnancy in Thalassaemia Syndromes (May 8, 2024)

  • The purpose of this guideline is to provide healthcare professionals with clear and specific recommendations for managing conception and pregnancy in patients with thalassemia.

Guideline on the use of predeposit autologous donation (April 25, 2024)

  • This guideline updates the previous version from 2007, noting the advancements in the safety of allogeneic transfusion have lessened the necessity for autologous collection. Furthermore, drawbacks have been identified and will be addressed.

Cancer-associated venous thrombosis in adults (second edition): A British Society for Haematology Guideline (April 25, 2024)

  • Numerous international guidelines exist for managing cancer-associated venous thrombosis in adults. BSH has developed a guideline specifically tailored for a UK audience, emphasizing therapeutic options that are commonly utilized within the National Health Service and easily accessible throughout the UK.

Identification and management of preoperative anaemia in adults: A British Society for Haematology Guideline update (April 25, 2024)

  • The revised BSH guideline offers a comprehensive literature review and recommendations on the identification and management of preoperative anaemia. This guideline covers the appropriate thresholds for diagnosing anaemia, as well as the diagnosis and management of iron deficiency in the preoperative setting. 

Prevention and treatment of infection in patients with an absent or hypofunctional spleen (April 10, 2024)

  • Revised guidelines have been developed for the prevention and treatment of infections in patients with an absent or dysfunctional spleen. These updates were prompted by advancements in vaccinations and shifts in infection trends. Key components of these guidelines include identifying high-risk patients, providing patient education and information, and establishing immunization schedules.

Guideline for laboratory diagnosis and monitoring of von Willebrand disease: A joint guideline from the United Kingdom Haemophilia Centre Doctors’ Organisation and the British Society for Haematology (March 26, 2024)

  • This updated guideline focuses on the laboratory components of diagnosis and monitoring for individuals with von Willebrand disease (VWD). It outlines the various laboratory tests that are utilized in diagnosing and monitoring VWD patients. In recent years, new functional tests have emerged as a viable alternative to the traditional ristocetin cofactor assay. This guideline also provides updated information on the rationale behind genetic testing for VWD.

The assessment and management of bleeding risk prior to invasive procedures (March 22, 2024)

  • The latest guidance update from BSH is centered around non-surgical invasive procedures. The primary goal of this guidance is to provide practical advice in situations where evidence may be lacking. Additionally, this guidance seeks to minimize unnecessary laboratory testing, inappropriate product usage, and avoidable delays in therapeutic procedures.

Guidelines for the specification, implementation and management of IT systems in hospital transfusion laboratories (January 24, 2024)

  • These guidelines are designed to assist hospital transfusion laboratories in the procurement and validation of Laboratory Information Management Systems, as well as provide direction on the operational utilization of these systems.

The management of newly diagnosed large B-cell lymphoma (January 21, 2024)

  • This BSH guideline provides a comprehensive overview of the recommended initial investigation and first-line management of large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL). The guideline specifically focuses on primary extra-nodal LBCL.

Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of adult aplastic anaemia (January 21, 2024)

  • Aplastic anemia is characterized by pancytopenia and hypocellular bone marrow. The diagnosis is confirmed through thorough evaluation, ruling out other potential causes such as hypoplastic myelodysplastic syndromes. The purpose of this guideline is to offer healthcare professionals clear direction on how to effectively manage adult patients with aplastic anemia.

We trust that you found these guidelines as intriguing as we did. Examining international society guidelines can broaden our understanding of recommendations beyond our own, thereby enriching our knowledge base. Please let us know if there are any international societies you would like us to look into and don’t forget to sign up for alerts and stay informed on the latest published guidelines and articles.

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