Patterns of Adverse Transfusion Reactions in a Tertiary Care Centre of North India: A Step Towards Hemovigilance

Transfusion of blood and blood products is a double edged sword, so it should be used judiciously. The primary aim of the centralized Haemovigilance Program is to improve transfusion safety. To determine the incidence of adverse transfusion reactions (ATRs) in recipients of blood and blood components. Prospective study from January 2014 till April 2015 was done. ATRs reported to the Department of Transfusion Medicine were recorded and analyzed on the basis of their clinical features and lab tests. During the study period 25,099 units of blood and blood components were transfused and 100 ATRs (0.40 %) were reported. The incidence of febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reactions (FNHTR) was maximum (73 %) followed by allergic reactions (24 %), bacterial sepsis (1 %), hypotension due to ACE inhibitors (1 %) and acute hemolytic transfusion reaction (AHTR) (1 %). Of all the reported ATRs, 76 % occurred with packed red cells, 15 % occurred with whole blood, while platelets and Fresh Frozen Plasma transfusions were responsible for 8 % and 1 %, respectively. The majority of the reactions were FNHTRs followed by allergic reactions. Reporting of all adverse events and continuous medical education to medical and paramedical staff will help in strengthening hemovigilance system.