Blood Transfusion Reactions

Blood Transfusion Reactions
Type	Cause	Manifestation
Allergic	Sensitivity to foreign proteins	■ Hives, urticaria, flushing ■ Fever
Febrile, nonhemolytic	Sensitization to donor’s WBC, platelets, and/or plasma proteins	■ Fever, chills, flushing ■ Headache and muscle aches ■ Respiratory distress ■ Cardiac dysrhythmias
Acute hemolytic	ABO incompatibility reaction to RBC antigens	■ Fever, chills, flushing ■ Low back pain ■ Tachycardia and hypotension ■ Vascular collapse ■ Cardiac arrest
Anaphylactic	Administration of donor IgA proteins to recipient with anti-IgA antibodies	■ Urticaria ■ Restlessness ■ Wheezing ■ Shock and cardiac arrest
Circulatory overload	Infusion of blood at a rapid rate that leads to fluid volume excess	■ Pulmonary congestion ■ Restlessness ■ Cough, shortness of breath ■ HTN ■ Distended neck veins
Bacteremia	Infusion of blood infected with bacteria	■ Fever and chills ■ Vomiting and diarrhea ■ Hypotension ■ Septic shock
See the Med-Surg tab for assessment and management of blood transfusion reactions.