What are Transfusion Reactions?

Transfusion reactions are the type of reactions that are antibody-mediated and occur after blood transfusion.

Transfusion reactions include:

Reaction	Time frame of occurrence	Symptoms	Treatment	Prognosis
Febrile Non-hemolytic Transfusion Reaction	During transfusion or the first 1-2 hours after.	Fever, chills, dyspnea	Antipyretics, stop transfusion.	good
Mild Allergic Transfusion Reaction	During transfusion	Urticaria, pruritis, flushing mild wheezing	Antihistamines, stop the transfusion	good
Acute Hemolytic Transfusion Reaction		Fever, chills, chest pain, hypotension	Stop transfusion, oxygen therapy, fluid replacement	Poor
Anaphylactic transfusion reaction	Immediately, seconds after initiation of transfusion	Rash, pruritis, edema, hypotension, vomiting, diarrhea	Stop transfusion, fluid therapy, epinephrine
Transfusion related acute lung injury	Withing 4-6 hours after	Tachypnea, dyspnea, fever, hypotension	Stop transfusion, oxygen therapy, intubation	Poor due to increased chances of fatality
Transfusion associate circulatory overload	4-6 hours post transfusion.	Dyspnea, tachypnea, cough, chest pain,	Stop transfusion, diuretics,	Poor due to high fatality rate
Delayed Hemolytic Transfusion Reaction	2days to several months	Drop in the Hb, fever, jaundice	Avoid transfusion, high dose of steroids and pain medication	Fair
Transfusion Associated Graft Versus Host Disease	3-30 days after transfusion	Fever, diarrhea, erythematous rash	Immunosuppressors	Poor prognosis

Table showing the transfusion reactions and the treatment, symptoms, and prognosis.