Medical Services

Acute Haemolytic Transfusion Reaction (AHTR) is a potentially life-threatening complication that occurs when transfused red blood cells are rapidly destroyed by the recipient’s immune system. The most common cause is transfusion of ABO-incompatible blood, usually resulting from identification, sampling, or administrative errors. The reaction can develop during transfusion or within hours afterward.

Typical symptoms include fever, chills, flushing, back or chest pain, nausea, breathlessness, anxiety, and a feeling of impending illness. Severe cases may cause hypotension, haemoglobinuria, acute kidney injury, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and shock. Laboratory findings can include falling haemoglobin levels, elevated lactate dehydrogenase, increased bilirubin, reduced haptoglobin, and a positive direct antiglobulin test.

The intravenous line should be maintained with compatible normal saline, while the blood unit and patient identification are urgently rechecked. Medical teams may provide supportive treatment, maintain adequate renal perfusion, and manage complications such as shock or coagulopathy.

Prevention relies on strict patient identification, accurate blood grouping and crossmatching, proper specimen labelling, and careful bedside verification before transfusion. Prompt reporting and investigation of suspected reactions are important for patient safety and preventing recurrence.