Transfusion Reactions Questions & Answers

1. Frazier SK, Higgins J, Bugajski A, Jones AR, Brown MR. Adverse Reactions to Transfusion of Blood Products and Best Practices for Prevention. Crit Care Nurs Clin North Am. 2017 Sep. 29 (3):271-290. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

2. Yeh SP, Chang CW, Chen JC, Yeh WC, Chen PC, Chuang SJ, et al. A well-designed online transfusion reaction reporting system improves the estimation of transfusion reaction incidence and quality of care in transfusion practice. Am J Clin Pathol. 2011 Dec. 136(6):842-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

3. Fastman BR, Kaplan HS. Errors in transfusion medicine: have we learned our lesson?. Mt Sinai J Med. 2011 Nov-Dec. 78(6):854-64. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

4. Squires JE. Risks of transfusion. South Med J. 2011 Nov. 104(11):762-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

5. Gangaraju R, Marques MB. Transfusion Reactions and Adverse Events of Transfusion. Marques M, Schwartz J, Wu Y, eds. Transfusion Therapy: Clinical Principles and Practice. 4th ed. Bethesda, Md: American Association of Blood Banks Press; 2019. 219-44.

6. Habibi A, Mekontso-Dessap A, Guillaud C, Michel M, Razazi K, Khellaf M, et al. Delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction in adult sickle-cell disease: presentations, outcomes, and treatments of 99 referral center episodes. Am J Hematol. 2016 Oct. 91 (10):989-94. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

7. de Montalembert M, Dumont MD, Heilbronner C, Brousse V, Charrara O, Pellegrino B, et al. Delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction in children with sickle cell disease. Haematologica. 2011 Jun. 96 (6):801-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

8. Keller-Stanislawski B, Lohmann A, Günay S, Heiden M, Funk MB. The German Haemovigilance System-reports of serious adverse transfusion reactions between 1997 and 2007. Transfus Med. 2009 Aug 31. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

9. Silliman CC. The two-event model of transfusion-related acute lung injury. Crit Care Med. 2006 May. 34(5 suppl):S124-31. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

10. Silliman CC, Curtis BR, Kopko PM, et al. Donor antibodies to HNA-3a implicated in TRALI reactions prime neutrophils and cause PMN-mediated damage to human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells in a two-event in vitro model. Blood. 2007 Feb 15. 109(4):1752-5. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

11. Curtis BR, McFarland JG. Mechanisms of transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI): anti-leukocyte antibodies. Crit Care Med. 2006 May. 34(5 suppl):S118-23. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

12. Skeate RC, Eastlund T. Distinguishing between transfusion related acute lung injury and transfusion associated circulatory overload. Curr Opin Hematol. 2007 Nov. 14(6):682-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

13. Fadeyi EA, De Los Angeles Muniz M, Wayne AS, et al. The transfusion of neutrophil-specific antibodies causes leukopenia and a broad spectrum of pulmonary reactions. Transfusion. 2007 Mar. 47(3):545-50. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

14. Vlaar AP, Juffermans NP. Transfusion-related acute lung injury: a clinical review. Lancet. 2013 Sep 14. 382 (9896):984-94. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

15. Gajic O, Gropper MA, Hubmayr RD. Pulmonary edema after transfusion: how to differentiate transfusion-associated circulatory overload from transfusion-related acute lung injury. Crit Care Med. 2006 May. 34(5 suppl):S109-13. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

16. Ness P, Creer M, Rodgers GM, Naoum JJ, Renkens K, Voils SA, et al. Building an immune-mediated coagulopathy consensus: early recognition and evaluation to enhance post-surgical patient safety. Patient Saf Surg. 2009 May 22. 3(1):8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

17. Garratty G. Immune hemolytic anemia associated with negative routine serology. Semin Hematol. 2005 Jul. 42(3):156-64. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

18. Capon SM, Goldfinger D. Acute hemolytic transfusion reaction, a paradigm of the systemic inflammatory response: new insights into pathophysiology and treatment. Transfusion. 1995 Jun. 35(6):513-20. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

19. Davenport RD. The role of cytokines in hemolytic transfusion reactions. Immunol Invest. 1995 Jan-Feb. 24(1-2):319-31. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

20. Sandler SG, Berry E, Ziotnick A. Benign hemoglobinuria following transfusion of accidentally frozen blood. JAMA. 1976 Jun 28. 235(26):2850-1. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

21. Sandler SG, Mallory D, Malamut D, Eckrich R. IgA anaphylactic transfusion reactions. Transfus Med Rev. 1995 Jan. 9 (1):1-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

22. Sandler SG, Eder AF, Goldman M, Winters JL. The entity of immunoglobulin A-related anaphylactic transfusion reactions is not evidence based. Transfusion. 2015 Jan. 55 (1):199-204. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

23. Shimada E, Odagiri M, Chaiwong K, et al. Detection of Hpdel among Thais, a deleted allele of the haptoglobin gene that causes congenital haptoglobin deficiency. Transfusion. 2007 Dec. 47(12):2315-21. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

24. Shimada E, Tadokoro K, Watanabe Y, et al. Anaphylactic transfusion reactions in haptoglobin-deficient patients with IgE and IgG haptoglobin antibodies. Transfusion. 2002 Jun. 42(6):766-73. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

25. Choi G, Soeters MR, Farkas H, et al. Recombinant human C1-inhibitor in the treatment of acute angioedema attacks. Transfusion. 2007 Jun. 47(6):1028-32. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

26. Mathew SK, Anjum F. Transfusion Selective IgA Deficiency. 2022 Jan. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

27. Eder AF, Dy BA, Herron RM, et al. Effective reduction of TRALI risk with plasma collected predominately from male donors [abstract]. Transfusion. 2009. 49 (supp):45a.

28. Palavecino E, Yomtovian R. Risk and prevention of transfusion-related sepsis. Curr Opin Hematol. 2003 Nov. 10(6):434-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

29. Fatalities Reported to FDA Following Blood Collection and Transfusion. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Available at https://www.fda.gov/media/160859/download. Accessed: March 12, 2023.

30. Jones JM, Sapiano MRP, Savinkina AA, Haass KA, Baker ML, Henry RA, et al. Slowing decline in blood collection and transfusion in the United States - 2017. Transfusion. 2020 Mar. 60 Suppl 2:S1-S9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

31. Savinkina AA, Haass KA, Sapiano MRP, Henry RA, Berger JJ, Basavaraju SV, et al. Transfusion-associated adverse events and implementation of blood safety measures - findings from the 2017 National Blood Collection and Utilization Survey. Transfusion. 2020 Mar. 60 Suppl 2:S10-S16. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

32. Popovsky MA, Moore SB. Diagnostic and pathogenetic considerations in transfusion-related acute lung injury. Transfusion. 1985 Nov-Dec. 25(6):573-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

33. Kopko PM, Popovsky MA, MacKenzie MR, et al. HLA class II antibodies in transfusion-related acute lung injury. Transfusion. 2001 Oct. 41(10):1244-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

34. Weber JG, Warner MA, Moore SB. What is the incidence of perioperative transfusion-related acute lung injury?. Anesthesiology. 1995 Mar. 82(3):789. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

35. Silliman CC, Boshkov LK, Mehdizadehkashi Z, et al. Transfusion-related acute lung injury: epidemiology and a prospective analysis of etiologic factors. Blood. 2003 Jan 15. 101(2):454-62. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

36. Blajchman MA. Protecting the blood supply from emerging pathogens: the role of pathogen inactivation. Transfus Clin Biol. 2009 May. 16(2):70-4. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

37. [Guideline] Carson JL, Grossman BJ, Kleinman S, Tinmouth AT, Marques MB, Fung MK, et al. Red blood cell transfusion: a clinical practice guideline from the AABB*. Ann Intern Med. 2012 Jul 3. 157 (1):49-58. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

38. Looney MR, Roubinian N, Gajic O, Gropper MA, Hubmayr RD, Lowell CA, et al. Prospective study on the clinical course and outcomes in transfusion-related acute lung injury*. Crit Care Med. 2014 Jul. 42(7):1676-87. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

39. Eder AF, Kennedy JM, Dy BA, et al. Bacterial screening of apheresis platelets and the residual risk of septic transfusion reactions: the American Red Cross experience (2004-2006). Transfusion. 2007 Jul. 47(7):1134-42. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

40. Blajchman MA, Beckers EA, Dickmeiss E, et al. Bacterial detection of platelets: current problems and possible resolutions. Transfus Med Rev. 2005 Oct. 19(4):259-72. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

41. Barrett BB, Andersen JW, Anderson KC. Strategies for the avoidance of bacterial contamination of blood components. Transfusion. 1993 Mar. 33(3):228-33. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

42. Dzieczkowski JS, Barrett BB, Nester D, et al. Characterization of reactions after exclusive transfusion of white cell-reduced cellular blood components. Transfusion. 1995 Jan. 35(1):20-5. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

43. Menitove JE, McElligott MC, Aster RH. Febrile transfusion reaction: what blood component should be given next?. Vox Sang. 1982. 42(6):318-21. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

44. Pineda AA, Taswell HF. Transfusion reactions associated with anti-IgA antibodies: report of four cases and review of the literature. Transfusion. 1975 Jan-Feb. 15(1):10-5. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

45. Castro O, Sandler SG, Houston-Yu P, Rana S. Predicting the effect of transfusing only phenotype-matched RBCs to patients with sickle cell disease: theoretical and practical implications. Transfusion. 2002 Jun. 42(6):684-90. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

46. Orlina AR, Sosler SD, Koshy M. Problems of chronic transfusion in sickle cell disease. J Clin Apher. 1991. 6(4):234-40. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

47. Habibi A, Mekontso-Dessap A, Guillaud C, Michel M, Razazi K, Khellaf M, et al. Delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction in adult sickle-cell disease: Presentations, outcomes and treatments of 99 referral center episodes. Am J Hematol. 2016 Jun 27. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

48. Fong SW, Qaqundah BY, Taylor WF. Developmental patterns of ABO isoagglutinins in normal children correlated with the effects of age, sex, and maternal isoagglutinins. Transfusion. 1974 Nov-Dec. 14(6):551-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

49. Oakley FD, Woods M, Arnold S, Young PP. Transfusion reactions in pediatric compared with adult patients: a look at rate, reaction type, and associated products. Transfusion. 2015 Mar. 55 (3):563-70. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

50. Baumgarten A, Kruchok AH, Weirich F. High frequency of IgG anti-A and -B antibody in old age. Vox Sang. 1976. 30(4):253-60. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

51. Beauregard P, Blajchman MA. Hemolytic and pseudo-hemolytic transfusion reactions: an overview of the hemolytic transfusion reactions and the clinical conditions that mimic them. Transfus Med Rev. 1994 Jul. 8(3):184-99. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

52. Yu H, Sandler SG. IgA anaphylactic transfusion reactions. Transfus Med Hemother. 2003. 30:214-20.

53. Farkas H, Jakab L, Temesszentandrasi G, et al. Hereditary angioedema: a decade of human C1-inhibitor concentrate therapy. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2007 Oct. 120(4):941-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

54. Ackfeld T, Schmutz T, Guechi Y, Le Terrier C. Blood Transfusion Reactions-A Comprehensive Review of the Literature including a Swiss Perspective. J Clin Med. 2022 May 19. 11 (10):[QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

55. Hillyer CD, Josephson CD, Blajchman MA, et al. Bacterial contamination of blood components: risks, strategies, and regulation: joint ASH and AABB educational session in transfusion medicine. Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program. 2003. 575-89. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

56. Rohde JM, Dimcheff DE, Blumberg N, Saint S, Langa KM, Kuhn L, et al. Health care-associated infection after red blood cell transfusion: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA. 2014 Apr 2. 311(13):1317-26. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

57. Vichinsky EP, Earles A, Johnson RA, et al. Alloimmunization in sickle cell anemia and transfusion of racially unmatched blood. N Engl J Med. 1990 Jun 7. 322(23):1617-21. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

58. Shariatmadar S, Pyrsopoulos NT, Vincek V, Noto TA, Tzakis AG. Alloimmunization to red cell antigens in liver and multivisceral transplant patients. Transplantation. 2007 Aug 27. 84(4):527-31. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

59. Hong H, Xiao W, Lazarus HM, Good CE, Maitta RW, Jacobs MR. Detection of septic transfusion reactions to platelet transfusions by active and passive surveillance. Blood. 2016 Jan 28. 127(4):496-502. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

60. Ezidiegwu CN, Lauenstein KJ, Rosales LG, Kelly KC, Henry JB. Febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reactions. Management by premedication and cost implications in adult patients. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2004 Sep. 128(9):991-5. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

61. Mekontso Dessap A, Pirenne F, Razazi K, Moutereau S, Abid S, Brun-Buisson C, et al. A diagnostic nomogram for delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction in sickle cell disease. Am J Hematol. 2016 Dec. 91 (12):1181-1184. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

62. Delaney M, Wendel S, Bercovitz RS, Cid J, Cohn C, Dunbar NM, et al. Transfusion reactions: prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Lancet. 2016 Dec 3. 388 (10061):2825-2836. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

63. Noizat-Pirenne F, Habibi A, Mekontso-Dessap A, Razazi K, Chadebech P, Mahevas M, et al. The use of rituximab to prevent severe delayed haemolytic transfusion reaction in immunized patients with sickle cell disease. Vox Sang. 2015 Apr. 108 (3):262-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

64. [Guideline] Tinegate H, Birchall J, Gray A, Haggas R, Massey E, Norfolk D, et al. Guideline on the investigation and management of acute transfusion reactions Prepared by the BCSH Blood Transfusion Task Force. Br J Haematol. 2012 Oct. 159(2):143-53. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

65. [Guideline] Laureano M, Khandelwal, A, Yan M. Transfusion Reactions. Khandelwal A, Abe T, eds. Clinical Guide to Transfusion. Ottawa: Canadian Blood Services; 2022. [Full Text].

S Gerald Sandler, MD, FCAP, FACP Professor Emeritus of Medicine and Pathology, Georgetown University School of Medicine

S Gerald Sandler, MD, FCAP, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: American Association of Blood Banks, College of American Pathologists, International Society of Blood Transfusion

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Viviana V Johnson, MD Medical Director, Blood Bank, Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth

Viviana V Johnson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association of Blood Banks, College of American Pathologists

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Received salary from Medscape for employment. for: Medscape.

Ronald A Sacher, MD, FRCPC, DTM&H Professor Emeritus of Internal Medicine and Hematology/Oncology, Emeritus Director, Hoxworth Blood Center, University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center

Ronald A Sacher, MD, FRCPC, DTM&H is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Association of Blood Banks, American Clinical and Climatological Association, American Society for Clinical Pathology, American Society of Hematology, College of American Pathologists, International Society of Blood Transfusion, International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Emmanuel C Besa, MD Professor Emeritus, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematologic Malignancies and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Kimmel Cancer Center, Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University

Emmanuel C Besa, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Cancer Education, American Society of Clinical Oncology, American College of Clinical Pharmacology, American Federation for Medical Research, American Society of Hematology, New York Academy of Sciences

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pradyumna D Phatak, MBBS, MD Chair, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Rochester General Hospital; Clinical Professor of Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute

Pradyumna D Phatak, MBBS, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of Hematology

Disclosure: Received honoraria from Novartis for speaking and teaching.

The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Navy, Department of Defense, nor the U.S. Government.

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