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[Risks and side effects of blood transfusion]
1Institut für Transfusionsmedizin, Laboratoriumsmedizin und medizinische Mikrobiologie, Klinikum Dortmund gGmbH, Alexanderstrasse 6-10, 44137, Dortmund, Deutschland. b.foelsch@klinikumdo.de
Der Orthopade
|September 17, 2009
Summary
Blood transfusions are generally safe, but adverse effects can occur. This review details transfusion risks, including infectious diseases and acute lung injury, emphasizing current safety measures.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Blood transfusions, while essential, carry potential risks of adverse effects.
- These effects can stem from immunologic, nonimmunologic, or infectious causes.
- Patient concerns often focus on infectious disease transmission, though risks are minimal with modern testing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the incidence, clinical presentation, and causes of transfusion-related adverse effects.
- To discuss current understanding of transfusion-associated acute lung injury (TAALI).
- To cover risks associated with specific pathogens and prion transmission.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of transfusion medicine, adverse event reporting, and infectious disease transmission.
- Analysis of data on transfusion-associated acute lung injury.
- Discussion of viral (hepatitis, HIV, CMV, parvovirus B19) and prion (variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease) risks.
Main Results:
- Adverse transfusion reactions encompass immunologic, nonimmunologic, and infectious categories.
- Modern screening has drastically reduced infectious disease transmission risks.
- Transfusion-associated acute lung injury is a significant concern, with ongoing research.
Conclusions:
- Blood transfusion safety is high due to rigorous testing and risk mitigation.
- Awareness of diverse adverse effects, including TAALI and rare infectious transmissions, remains crucial.
- Continued vigilance and research are necessary to further enhance transfusion safety.
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