Professional Documents
Culture Documents
6th Edition
Chapter 16
Introduction
A transfusion reaction is defined as any
transfusion-related adverse event that occurs
during or after the transfusion of whole blood,
blood components, or human-derived plasma
products.
Acute transfusion reactions
Delayed transfusion reactions
Immune versus non-immune reactions
Infectious versus non-infectious reactions
Transfusion Risks
Transfusion reactions have different
associated outcomes that can be the cause of
increased morbidity or even mortality.
Some transfusion-associated adverse events
can be prevented, others cannot.
The diagnosis and treatment of a transfusion
reaction is a multidisciplinary task.
Delayed Serologic/Hemolytic
Transfusion Reaction (DSHTR)
The detection of "new" red cell antibodies after 24
hours of transfusion
Occurs most commonly secondarily to an amnestic
response but may also occur during a primary
immune response
May (delayed hemolytic) or may not (delayed
serologic) be associated with shortened survival of
the transfused cells
Delayed Serologic/Hemolytic
Transfusion Reaction (DSHTR) (cont’d)
Often noted when a new sample is tested during
a request for a type and crossmatch and the
hemoglobin levels are lower than anticipated
Implicated antibody specificity, thermal activity
and ability to fix complement
Immunohematology evaluation
Iron Overload
A delayed, non-immune complication of
transfusion, presenting with multi-organ
(liver, heart, endocrine organs) damage
secondary to excessive iron accumulation
Chelation therapy for iron overload