Prevalence of Acute Complications of Transfusion in Children with β-thalassemia Major in Southeast Iran: A Prospective Study

Background: Acute complications of transfusion are among leading causes of morbidity and mortality in chronically transfused patients. One of the main goals of the blood transfusion is reducing complications, improve blood safety and patient's health care worldwide. The purpose of present study was to investigate the prevalence of acute complications of transfusion in beta thalassemia major (TM) patients in Southeast Iran.Methods: In a prospective study, ۲۳۸۸۲ transfusions were evaluated in TM patients in thalassemia clinic for acute reactions during ۲ years period. Data were collected by forms to record the information related to blood transfusion at the time of reaction occurence. Results: The assessment of the data revealed that ۲۲۸ TM (۰.۹۵%) had acute complications of transfusion. Of ۲۳۸۸۲ transfusions in TM patients, ۲۱۱ patients (۰.۸۷%) developed allergic reactions, ۱۱ patients (۰.۰۴%) were diagnosed with febrile non-hemolytic reaction and ۱ patient (۰.۰۰۴%) had experienced acute hemolytic transfusion reaction.Conclusions: The results of current study supports preventive measures for reduction of these complications to improve patient's health. Acute complications occurred may be due to insufficient ability to perform blood bank tests, lack of standard operating instructions and lack of necessary monitoring during the transfusion process. The best way to reduce the risk of blood transfusion reactions is providing special care to the patients during the first ۲۴ hours after transfusion. Creating a consistent and continuous education system with standard operating instructions and establishing an error reporting system leads to improve knowledge about transfusion guidelines and best practices.

Keywords:

Thalassemia major , transfusion reactions , children