Blood Transfusion Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Blood Transfusion, including details on blood donation, blood types, leukemia.

Severe transfusion-related acute lung injury.

Brander L, Reil A, Bux J, Taleghani BM, Regli B, Takala J

Department of Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital, Inselspital, 3010 Bern, Switzerland. lukas.brander@insel.ch

A 46-yr-old man developed severe hypoxemia, pulmonary infiltrates, and an acute decrease in his leukocyte count shortly after transfusion of fresh-frozen plasma (FFP) during recovery from cardiac surgery. Cardiogenic pulmonary edema was excluded. Granulocyte-reactive and agglutinating alloantibodies were detected in the serum of the fresh-frozen plasma donor. The cross-match with the patient's granulocytes revealed antibodies specific for HLA class I. Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is a potentially life-threatening, under-recognized and under-reported complication of transfusion. Conservative transfusion strategies and preclusion of the implicated blood donors with granulocyte-reactive antibodies from future blood donation may prevent TRALI and could save lives. IMPLICATIONS: Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is a potentially life-threatening, probably under-recognized and under-reported complication of transfusing blood products. Conservative transfusion strategies and preclusion of the implicated blood donors with granulocyte-reactive antibodies from future blood donation may prevent TRALI and potentially save lives.

Published 22 July 2005 in Anesth Analg, 101(2): 499-501, table of contents.
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