[Complications of blood donation in Morocco (during and immediately after the donation)]

The complications that may arise in connection with a blood donation are usually benign. These complications can lead to disaffection for the donation. The purpose of this study is to determine the incidence of complications occurring during or shortly after blood donation and to identify factors that contribute to its occurrence.

A prospective study of 10 December 2005 to 09 June 2006 is conducted at the Regional Center for Blood Transfusion in Casablanca (Morocco) on the complications seen in 23 745 donors.

During the study period, 23 745 samples were made and 122 complications were collected (0.51%). One hundred and sixteen (95%) complications of a general: 81 vagal malaise, 20 syncopations, two syncopations convulsivantes and three tetany. Seventy-three (63%) donors presented hypotension. Complications are more common in men than in women: 71 versus 45 (p < 0.001); patients give for the first time than to Former donors: 82 versus 34 (p < 0.001); donors have age less or egal to 30 years compared with than with age over 30 years: 78 versus 38 (p < 0.001). Eighty-two complications (71%) were observed among donors with weight more than 70 kg.

In this study, the incidence of the complications for blood donation remains lower. The best choice of the donors by the doctor, taking into consideration the factors involved in these complications, reduces this incidence.