Descriptions of acute transfusion reactions in the teaching hospitals of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Transfusion services rely on transfusion reaction reporting to provide patient care and protect the blood supply. Unnecessary discontinuation of blood is a major wastage of scarce blood, as well as man, hours and funds. The aim of the present study was to describe the main characteristics of acute transfusion reactions reported in the 4 hospital of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (KUMS), Kermanshah, Iran. The study was carried out at 4 teaching hospital of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran over18 months from April 2010. All adult patients on admission in the hospitals who required blood transfusion and had establish diagnosis and consented were included in the study. In the year 2010 until 2012, a total of 6238 units of blood components were transfused. A total of 59 (0.94%) cases of transfusion reaction were reported within this 3 years period. The most frequent reactions were allergic reactions which presented with various skin manifestations such as urticarial, rashes and pruritus 29 (49.1%) followed by increase in body temperature of > 1◦C from baseline which was reported as febrile non-hemolytic transfusion reaction (FNHTR) 22 (37.2%). There were four patients who had pain at the transfusion site (6.7%) and hypotension (6.7%). It is important that each transfusion of blood components to be monitor carefully. Many transfusion reactions are not recognized, because signs and symptoms mimic other clinical conditions. Any unexpected symptoms in a transfusion recipient should at least be considered as a possible transfusion reaction and be evaluated. Prompt recognition and treatment of acute transfusion reaction are crucial and would help in decreasing transfusion related morbidity and mortality, but prevention is preferable.