How I safely transfuse patients with sickle-cell disease and manage delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions.

ABSTRACT: Transfusions can be a life-saving treatment of patients with sickle-cell disease (SCD). However, availability of matched units can be limiting because of distinctive blood group polymorphisms in patients of African descent. Development of antibodies against the transfused red blood cells (RBCs), resulting in delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions (DHTRs), can be life-threatening and pose unique challenges for this population with regard to treatment strategies and transfusion management protocols. In cases where the transfused cells and the patient's own RBCs are destroyed, diagnosis of DHTR can be difficult because symptoms may mimic vaso-occlusive crisis, and frequently, antibodies are undetectable. Guidelines are needed for early diagnosis of DHTR because treatment may need to include

SUBMITTER: Pirenne F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6014354 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature