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Hyperhemolysis syndrome: A relative contraindication for transfusion
Author(s) -
Lu Rommel P.,
Clark Pamela,
Mintz Paul D.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of hospital medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.128
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1553-5606
pISSN - 1553-5592
DOI - 10.1002/jhm.257
Subject(s) - medicine , contraindication , intensive care medicine , medline , alternative medicine , pathology , law , political science
Division of Transfusion Medicine, Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia Hyperhemolysis syndrome is a form of atypical hemolytic transfusion reaction (HTR). It is characterized by a significant drop in hemoglobin (Hb) after seemingly compatible red blood cell transfusions, suggesting destruction of both transfused and autologous red blood cells. Its pathophysiology is not well understood, and a serologic cause is often not identified. In contrast, delayed HTRs are typically characterized by a positive direct antiglobulin test (DAT), suggesting that the patient’s red blood cells are coated by immunoglobulin G and/or complement components and by the appearance of previously undetected red blood cell alloantibody or antibodies that developed from a secondary anamnestic response; however, autologous red cells are not destroyed.