Open AccessA Transfusion‐Related Acute Myocardial Injury
Author(s) -
Ramana Ravi K.,
Helm Robert,
Moran John F.,
McKiernan Thomas
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
congestive heart failure
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1751-7133
pISSN - 1527-5299
DOI - 10.1111/j.1527-5299.2006.04952.x
Subject(s) - medicine , acute myocarditis , pathophysiology , ejection fraction , cardiology , adverse effect , myocarditis , blood product , transfusion related acute lung injury , intensive care medicine , heart failure , lung , pulmonary edema , surgery
It is not uncommon for patients to have adverse reactions during or after blood transfusions, as they occur in l%‐6% of all blood transfusions. Although many of the reactions are clinically insignificant, a small subset of adverse reactions can lead to serious illness and even death. The authors describe a healthy young man who exhibited an acute pulmonary injury reaction to a blood product transfusion. However, he also suffered significant myocardial insult, as documented by decreased left ventricular ejection fraction and a significant rise in cardiac biomarkers. Based on current understanding of the pathophysiologic mechanisms in transfusion‐related acute lung injury, the authors hypothesized that coronary endothelial injury may have caused microvascular ischemia or have induced acute myocarditis. Empiric treatment with steroids and a j3 blocker resulted in improved left ventricular function in our patient.