Post transfusion reactions

Overview

Post transfusion reaction (PTR) is understood as an adverse effect of application of a transfusion product. The risk of some PTRs may be minimalized by the GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) and by its appropriate processing in the stage of clinical application (blood drawing and identification of the sample, proper fill in of the application formulary, appropriate handling with the product, including the application of the product to the patient). Some of the PTRs may be influenced by preventive means (deleukotization, irradiation), the others may be minimalized only by bearing them in mind with the possibility of starting the diagnostic and therapeutic measures as soon as possible. According to the practice aim of this paper the authors selected the hemolytic PTR for the detailed description. There is one fatal hemolytic PTR per a year in the Czech Republic as a mean. The hemolytic PTR may be caused also by non-immunologic mechanisms (the damage of the erythrocytes), and these causes are relatively unrecognized. The febrile PTR comes quite frequently in the clinical practice and it may be prevented by the deleukotization by the great deal. The allergic PTRs commonly do not create serious problems in the transfusion practice, but if there is a heavy allergic or anaphylactic reaction in the anamnesis of the concrete patient, it is necessary to eliminate the plasmatic proteins from the cellular products before they are used. The not uniformly known TAGvHD has very serious prognosis but may be relatively easily prevented, and that is why it should be realized by the whole health care professionals’ community.

Key words:
post transfusion reactions - prevention - TA-GvHD