Erythrocyte transfusion

In medicine, erythrocyte transfusion or red blood cell transfusion is the "transfer of erythrocytes from a donor to a recipient or reinfusion to the donor."

Adverse effects

Immunologic reactions

• Febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reactions (FNHTR) due to destruction of incompatible donor white blood cells
• Hemolytic reactions due to blood group incompatibility is "mismatch between donor and recipient blood. Antibodies present in the recipient's serum are directed against antigens in the donor product. Such a mismatch may result in a transfusion reaction in which, for example, donor blood is hemolyzed."
  • Acute hemolytic transfusion reactions due to ABO incompatibility
  • Delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions
• Allergic reactions
  • Anaphylactic transfusion reactions may occur, especially in patients with IgA-deficiency.
  • Urticaria may occur due to the recipient's IgE reacting to antigens from the donor.
• Posttransfusion purpura (PTP) due to thrombocytopenia from platelet antibodies. This is more common in women who have been pregnant.
• Transfusion associated graft-versus-host disease (TA-GVHD)

Chemical reactions

• Hemosiderosis
• Hypocalcemia from citrate toxicity
• Hyperkalemia
• Metabolic alkalosis and hypokalemia due to citrate

Other reactions

• Hypothermia
• Circulatory overload
• Hypotension associated with leukoreduced blood

External links

• International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT)
• Dean L. (2005) Blood Groups and Red Cell Antigens NCBI
  • Blood transfusions and the immune system