Incidence of hypotension and acute hypotensive transfusion reactions following platelet concentrate transfusions

Adverse reactions following transfusion of blood components, with a focus on some rare reactions: reports to the International Haemovigilance Network Database (ISTARE) in 2012-2016

OBJECTIVES

The International Haemovigilance Network's (IHN) ISTARE database collects surveillance data on all adverse reactions (AR) associated with transfusion of blood and blood components, facilitating the sharing of best practice and benchmarking for improving blood safety and quality. Up to 2012 no publications discussed certain rare AR. The aim of this study is to examine ISTARE data on AR from 2012 to 2016, focusing on hypotensive reactions, post-transfusion purpura (PTP), transfusion-associated graft versus host disease (TA-GvHD), hyperkalemia and hypocalcemia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

National Haemovigilance Systems (HVS), provided aggregate annual data on AR by type of reaction, severity, imputability to transfusion, and blood component implicated. Twenty-nine HVS provided 104 annual reports covering 107,778,290 blood units issued.

RESULTS

Among AR reported, 25% were serious, including 368 deaths. The 284 transfusion-transmitted infections included 187 bacterial infections, 84 viral and 13 parasitic or fungal; nine deaths resulted. AR related to the respiratory system transfusion-associated circulatory overload, transfusion-related acute lung injury and transfusion-associated dyspnoea accounted for 8.3% of all AR, 20.1% of serious, and 52.2% of deaths. Of 1634 rare AR, 1565 were hypotensive, 38 PTP, 17 GvHD, 9 hyperkalemia and 5 hypercalcemia. Half were serious and 16 fatalities were recorded (13 hypotensive, 2 GvHD, one PTP). Among 14 countries that reported any hypotensive AR, incidences diverged widely.

CONCLUSIONS

ARs in this group are frequently severe or life-threatening. Hypotensive AR are the most common, but may have been overlooked and counted under allergic and other AR presenting with hypotension. Compliance with the ISBT definition may be suboptimal, thus its real incidence may be higher. Data on GvHD may contribute to clarifying the role of leukodepletion with or without irradiation. ISTARE continues to be a useful surveillance tool for all transfusion AR and provides relevant insights into overlooked and rare AR, thus offering important contributions towards maximising transfusion safety.

Pediatric Hemovigilance and Adverse Transfusion Reactions

Some types of transfusion reactions occur more frequently in the pediatric than the adult population. Allergic reactions are the most common, followed by nonhemolytic transfusion reactions; male children seem most susceptible to such reactions. Platelets are often implicated and pulmonary reactions are understudied in children. Clinical sequelae in neonates, such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia/chronic lung disease and intraventricular hemorrhage, have received increasing attention in relation to transfusion. There is a need to better understand the pathophysiology of transfusion reactions in neonatal and pediatric populations so preventive strategies can be undertaken. There is also a need for robust hemovigilance systems.