The most severe cause of acute hemolytic transfusion reaction (AHTR) is a mismatch between the blood type of the donor and that of the recipient. This is because the recipient’s body will recognize the donor’s red blood cells as foreign and attack them, leading to a rapid destruction of the red blood cells. This can lead to a potentially life-threatening drop in the recipient’s hemoglobin levels, which can cause organ damage, shock, and even death. Other causes of AHTR include clerical errors, incorrect storage of blood, and contamination.
Mismatch between Donor and Recipient Blood Type
The most severe cause of AHTR is a mismatch between the blood type of the donor and the recipient. The recipient’s immune system will recognize the donor’s red blood cells as foreign and attack them, leading to a rapid destruction of the red blood cells. This can cause a potentially life-threatening drop in the recipient’s hemoglobin levels, which can cause organ damage, shock, and even death.
Clerical Errors
Clerical errors are also a potential cause of AHTR. This can include incorrect labeling of blood, incorrect entry of donor or recipient details, or mismatches between the donor and recipient blood type details that are entered.
Incorrect Storage of Blood
Incorrect storage of blood can also lead to AHTR. This can include incorrect temperature regulation, incorrect storage times, or incorrect mixing of blood types.
Contamination
Finally, contamination of the blood can also lead to AHTR. This can include bacterial contamination, viral contamination, or a reaction to incompatible substances in the blood.
