HEMOLYTIC TRANSFUSION REACTION

Course overview

HEMOLYTIC TRANSFUSION REACTIONS ARE ONE POSSIBLE COMPLICATION FROM TRANSFUSIONS. HEMOLYSIS IS THE RUPTURE OF RED BLOOD CELLS, AND CAN OCCUR INTRAVASCULARLY, OR IN THE CIRCULATION, OR EXTRAVASCULARLY, OR IN THE RETICULOENDOTHELIAL SYSTEM. HEMOLYTIC TRANSFUSION REACTIONS CAN BE IMMUNE OR NON-IMMUNE MEDIATED. IMMUNE HEMOLYTIC TRANSFUSIONS REACTIONS OCCUR DUE TO MISMATCH OR INCOMPATIBILITY OF THE PATIENT WITH THE DONOR PRODUCTS. IMMUNE HEMOLYTIC TRANSFUSION REACTIONS ARE DIVIDED INTO ACUTE VERSUS DELAYED HEMOLYTIC REACTIONS. THIS ACTIVITY ILLUSTRATES THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, EVALUATION, AND MANAGEMENT OF HEMOLYTIC TRANSFUSION REACTIONS AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN PREVENTION OF THESE REACTIONS.