Some people experience agin reactions during or afterwards a blood transfusion. These reactions tin can range from balmy to severe. Withal, most people who receive blood transfusions experience no complications.

Co-ordinate to the American Cherry Cross, people do not typically feel complications after having a blood transfusion, but they tin can happen occasionally.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) country that the most mutual adverse reactions are allergic and febrile (fever) transfusion reactions.

In this commodity, nosotros discuss the potential reactions a person may experience due to a blood transfusion.

A blood bag pictured before a blood transfusion, which may cause reactions. Share on Pinterest
Symptoms of a claret transfusion reaction, while uncommon, include fever, chills, and respiratory distress.

According to a 2020 article, the most common signs that bespeak a person is experiencing an adverse reaction include:

  • a fever
  • chills
  • hives
  • itching

However, these symptoms can resolve with little or no treatment.

Signs that indicate a more than severe reaction include:

  • respiratory distress
  • low blood pressure
  • loftier fever
  • red urine

Examples of astute transfusion reactions include the following:

Simple allergic reaction

Even when a person receives the correct claret blazon, allergic reactions can occur.

According to a 2013 article in the British Journal of Haematology, reactions occur due to:

  • the donor blood containing specific plasma proteins that the recipient'south blood sees every bit allergens
  • the donor blood containing nutrient allergens, such equally peanut or gluten
  • antibodies in donor blood react with antibodies in the recipient'due south blood

Symptoms

Symptoms are typically mild and include:

  • rash
  • itching
  • hives

Handling

Treatments for a mild allergic reaction include:

  • stopping the transfusion
  • taking an antihistamine to aid treat an allergic reaction

Anaphylactic transfusion reaction

Anaphylactic reactions occur in those with immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiencies and accept IgA antibodies in their plasma.

The recipient's anti-IgA antibodies can react with the IgA antibodies in the donor blood.

Symptoms

Symptoms typically include:

  • flushed skin
  • itching
  • hives
  • swelling
  • difficulty breathing
  • wheezing
  • blue lips
  • airsickness
  • diarrhea
  • low blood pressure

Treatment

If a person is experiencing whatsoever of the in a higher place symptoms, a nurse or doctor volition terminate the transfusion. After this, they volition address the specific symptoms, which can include:

  • intravenous (Iv) epinephrine
  • IV steroids
  • antihistamines
  • bronchodilators

Febrile non-hemolytic transfusion reaction

According to the CDC, a febrile non-hemolytic transfusion reaction (FNHTR) is the near common reaction. Information technology involves an unexplained rising in temperature during or 4 hours after the transfusion.

The fever is role of the person'south white blood cells response to the new blood.

Symptoms

Symptoms volition depend on the severity and may include:

  • body temperature higher than 38ºC (100.4ºF)
  • fever and chills

If other symptoms are present, the person should contact their doctor.

Treatment

If FNHTR occurs during the transfusion, the healthcare professional will terminate the procedure.

Treatment depends on the symptoms. However, according to the CDC, most reactions are typically mild and respond quickly to treatment.

  • investigating all cases of fever every bit information technology may indicate a more than astringent crusade
  • taking the recommended dose of aspirin or acetaminophen

Acute hemolytic transfusion reaction

Co-ordinate to the CDC, this type of reaction occurs during, immediately later on, or within 24 hours of the transfusion. This type of reaction occurs if a person has received the incorrect blood type.

A 2019 article states that an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction causes the body to start destroying the donated blood-red claret cells.

Symptoms

Symptoms can include:

  • chills
  • low claret pressure
  • renal failure
  • back pain

Less common symptoms include:

  • flank pain
  • fever
  • red or chocolate-brown urine

Handling

If a person develops an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction, the physician or nurse will terminate the transfusion.

Treatment depends on the severity of the reaction and may include:

  • Four fluids
  • dialysis
  • management of haemorrhage
  • supportive care

Septic transfusion reactions

Co-ordinate to a 2012 commodity, septic transfusion reactions typically occur due to bacterial contamination of the donor blood components, most commonly from the platelet products.

The bacteria in platelets that can cause a septic transfusion reaction include Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis.

Symptoms

Symptoms tin can include:

  • a fever
  • chills
  • low claret pressure.

Treatment

Septic transfer reactions require immediate attention. Management of the condition involves

  • fluid direction
  • respiratory support
  • antibody therapy.

Transfusion-related astute lung injury (TRALI)

This blood transfusion reaction develops very apace. It happens when antibodies in the donor blood, such as man leukocyte antibodies, react with the recipient'due south leukocytes, or white blood cells. This results in pulmonary edema, or backlog fluid in the lungs.

Co-ordinate to the American Red Cross, no specific examination exists to identify which blood products will cause TRALI.

Symptoms

Symptoms of TRALI include:

  • severe shortness of breath
  • fever
  • depression blood pressure

Treatment

Handling depends on the severity of the symptoms:

  • For mild cases, a person will need oxygen therapy.
  • For more severe cases, a person may require artificial ventilation.

According to a 2012 article, most cases typically resolve inside 48–72 hours. Yet, TRALI can be fatal and has a mortality rate of between 5–25%.

Transfusion-associate circulatory overload (TACO)

TACO occurs if a person's circulatory system is unable to process the amount of blood or the speed at which they are receiving it. Doctors call this volume overload, and people who accept heart or kidney conditions may develop it.

In TACO, the circulatory system becomes overwhelmed, resulting in pulmonary edema where the lungs make full up with excess fluid.

Symptoms

Symptoms of TACO usually occur inside a few hours of or during the transfusion and include:

  • rapid animate
  • coughing
  • shortness
  • high claret pressure
  • rapid heartbeat.

Treatment

If symptoms occur during the transfusion, the doctor or healthcare professional will stop the process immediately.

According to LabMedicine, handling for TACO depends on the severity.

  • placing the person in an upright position is often sufficient to treat balmy TACO
  • treating a person with diuretics to remove excess fluid may help resolve more avant-garde TACO
  • intubating to improve respiration is sometimes necessary in severe cases

Examples of delayed transfusion reactions include the post-obit:

Delayed hemolytic or delayed serologic transfusion reaction

A delayed hemolytic or delayed serologic transfusion reaction occurs when an antibody that the recipient already has reforms and reacts to red cell antigens. Reactions can occur betwixt 1 day and four weeks after the transfusion.

A person can acquire these antibodies through previous pregnancies or transfusions. These particular antibodies subtract over time to undetectable levels. Those with the antibodies accept a higher adventure of developing these transfusion reactions.

Symptoms

Symptoms typically include:

  • fever
  • jaundice
  • intestinal hurting
  • dark urine
  • high blood pressure
  • labored breathing

Treatment

According to LabMedicine, these transfusion reactions tend to be mild and exercise non require treatment. If the reaction is significant, hydration is important.

Transfusion-associated graft versus host illness (TAGVHD)

According to the CDC, TAGVHD occurs when T-lymphocytes, a type of white blood jail cell, from the donor blood speedily increase in number in the recipient. They then assault the recipient'due south cells.

However, it is a very rare occurrence, and it has become less prevalent since the introduction of the irradiation of blood products. Blood irradiation involves exposing the blood components to ultraviolet light.

Symptoms

According to the CDC, symptoms include:

  • rash
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • diarrhea
  • abdominal hurting
  • fever
  • bone marrow failure

Treatment

Doctors observe TAGVHD challenging to treat, and as a upshot, bloodshed rates are betwixt ninety–100%.

  • Prevention is the all-time grade of treatment. Using irradiation can aid preclude the run a risk of a person developing TAGVHD.

Posttransfusion purpura (PTP)

The CDC state that PTP is rare. It occurs when the recipient develops antibodies against the platelets. This results in the destruction of platelets and a decline in platelet numbers.

Symptoms

According to a 2019 article, symptoms of PTP can include:

  • bleeding of the alimentary canal and urinary tract
  • fever and chills

Handling

Treatment may include:

  • supportive care
  • IV immunoglobins and steroids

The outlook depends on which reaction a person is experiencing. However, serious claret transfusion reactions are uncommon.

Healthcare providers, blood banks, and hospitals take many precautions to assist reduce the take chances of a transfusion reaction from occurring.

According to the CDC, doctors transfuse 17.2 million blood product units each yr in the United States, and almost people do not feel any blood transfusion reactions.

If someone has a claret transfusion and experiences symptoms, such equally shortness of breath, depression blood pressure, red or brown urine, flank hurting, or other serious side furnishings, they should run across a doctor immediately.