Transfusion reactions in thalassemia. A survey from the Cooleycare programme. The Cooleycare Cooperative Group

A survey on transfusion reactions in thalassemia was carried out within the COOLEYCARE Programme, a cooperative enterprise aimed at improving quantity and quality of life in thalassemia through a program of quality assurance of treatment delivered to patients. Reactions were reported in 1,225 of 111,590 red cell transfusions (1.1%) given during 40 months (September 1985-December 1987) to 3,755 thalassemics in Italy and Greece. About 90% of red cell units were leukocyte-poor. Filtration was the most commonly used technique for leukocyte removal. Chills, fever, urticaria, headache and chest pain accounted for more than 80% of symptoms reported. Reactions were reported during transfusion in two thirds of cases. Although reactions were reported from 16% of patients, three quarters of reacting patients had no more than 2 reactions in 40 months.