Acute hemolytic transfusion reaction

From IDWiki

Background

  • Caused by:
    • Incompatibles RBCs (ABO or other blood group)
    • Incompatible plasma
  • Occurs in 1 in 38,000 transfusion, usually due to clerical error causing patient to receive wrong blood
  • Mortality about 10%

Clinical Manifestations

  • Fevers, chills, rigors, hemoglobinuria
    • Fever may be only sign at presentation
  • May have nausea, vomiting, pain at infusion site, flank pain, hypotension, AKI, or DIC

Management

  • Stop transfusion and notify blood bank
  • Send hemolysis workup with CBC, reticulocyte count, bilirubin, LDH, and haptoglobin
  • Supportive care