A blood transfusion is a common procedure used to replace blood lost from surgery or an accident. Through an intravenous line in one of your blood vessels, new blood that is matched or compatible with your blood type is introduced into your body. You may receive red blood cells, platelets and/or white blood cells during the transfusion, depending upon your specific needs. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), most transfusions go well; however, mild or rare serious side effects can occur.
Infectious Diseases
Although donated blood is carefully screened for viruses, it is possible in rare cases for a person to contract an infectious disease through a blood transfusion. According to the NHLBI, approximately 1 in 2 million blood transfusions may result in the transfer of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). Rarely, some people may contract viral hepatitis--a disease that causes inflammation of the liver. The risk for contracting hepatitis B is approximately one in 250,000 while the risk of contracting hepatitis C is roughly one in 2 million. The NHLBI also notes that there is a rare possibility of developing Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD)--the human variant of Mad Cow Disease.
Destruction of Red Blood Cells
If the blood that is transfused does not match or work well with your blood type, you may develop a hemolytic reaction in which your body attacks the new red blood cells. An acute immune hemolytic reaction comes on very quickly, causing symptoms that include fever, chills, nausea, chest or back pain and darkly colored urine. Kidney damage may occur, so at the first signs of this acute reaction, the transfusion should be stopped. In some cases, these symptoms may develop more slowly, leading to delayed hemolytic reaction. The slow destruction of red blood cells can mean that the condition goes unnoticed until red blood cell levels have become extremely low. Both acute and delayed hemolytic reactions are particularly common among people who have a history of previous blood transfusion, according to the NHLBI.
Graft-versus-Host Disease (GVHD)
A potentially fatal side effect, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) occurs when the white blood cells in the newly transfused blood attack your bodily tissues. Symptoms of GVHD usually begin within one month of the transfusion, causing fever, rash and diarrhea. This condition is especially likely to occur among those with weakened immune systems, according to the National Marrow Donor Program.
Lung Problems
In rare cases, recipients of blood transfusions may develop serious lung complications that make it difficult to breathe. According to the NHLBI, between 5 and 25 percent of those who develop lung injuries (most of whom were seriously ill before the transfusion) will die as a result of the complication. Symptoms of lung problems usually develop within six hours of the transfusion.
Other Side Effects
In response to new white blood cells in the transfused blood, a person may experience the sudden onset of a fever within 24 hours of a blood transfusion. This is a normal response that is generally treatable with over-the-counter medication. Repeated blood transfusions can cause excessive iron to build up in the bloodstream, increasing the risk of heart and liver damage. Some individuals may require a special treatment known as iron chelation therapy to remove the extra iron from the body. An allergic reaction may also occur to transfused blood, even if the blood is the proper type, according to the NHLBI. Related symptoms, such as nausea, trouble breathing, fever and chills, anxiety, rapid heart rate and low blood pressure may be mild to severe. If you experience an allergic reaction, your healthcare team will likely stop the transfusion and re-evaluate whether it is appropriate to resume it at another time.
