Prevalence of acute blood transfusion reactions in 11 hospitals of Tehran and Mazandaran province

Background and ObjectivesAcute blood complications form the most frequent and important reactions among the blood transfusion adverse effects; acute hemolytic reaction, bacterial contamination, and transfusion related acute lung injury (TRALI) are the most frequent causes of death following blood transfusion. Materials and MethodsIn this descriptive prospective study, 2633 patients hospitalized in surgical and non-surgical departments of 11 hospitals having received blood transfusion were evaluated for acute blood transfusion reactions. ResultsAmong these patients, 20 (0.8%) encountered acute blood transfusion reactions. Out of this group of patients, eight experienced febrile non-hemolytic transfusion reactions, nine had allergic reactions, one developed blood group incompatibility, and two disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).ConclusionsThis study indicates that the most prevalent blood transfusion reactions were fever and allergy (0.3%). This reported rate (0.5-6%) is lower than the global rate. The rate of blood group incompatibility in this study was 0.03%, showing a higher prevalence than the global rate (0.004%).