Adverse transfusion reactions and what we can do

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Transfusions of blood and blood components have inherent risks and the ensuing adverse reactions. It is very important to understand the adverse reactions of blood transfusion comprehensively for ensuring the safety of any future transfusions.

Areas covered

According to the time of onset, adverse reactions of blood transfusion are divided into immediate and delayed transfusion reactions. In acute transfusion reactions, timely identification and immediate cessation of transfusion is critical. Vigilance is required to distinguish delayed responses or reactions that present nonspecific signs and symptoms. In this review, we present the progress of mechanism, clinical characteristics and management of commonly encountered transfusion reactions.

Expert opinion

The incidence of many transfusion-related adverse events is decreasing, but threats to transfusion safety are always emerging. It is particularly important for clinicians and blood transfusion staff to recognize the causes, symptoms, and treatment methods of adverse blood transfusion reactions to improve the safety. In the future, at-risk patients will be better identified and can benefit from more closely matched blood components.

KEYWORDS:

• Transfusion reaction
• cause
• symptom
• prevention
• treatment

Article highlights

• The mechanism, clinical characteristics and management of commonly encountered transfusion reactions.

• Immediate transfusion reactions and delayed transfusion reactions in detail.

• Vigilance and distinguishing reactions that present non-specific signs and symptoms.

• Guide clinical staff to choose the most appropriate blood components for patients.

• Guide medical staff how to observe and deal with patients experiencing adverse transfusion reactions.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Capital Health Development Research Project (Grant No. 2021-1G-2021).