Catastrophic Delayed Hemolytic Transfusion Reaction in a Patient With Sickle Cell Disease Without Alloantibodies: Case Report and Review of Literature

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2019 Nov;41(8):624-626. doi: 10.1097/MPH.0000000000001307.

Abstract

While packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusion therapy is a mainstay in the treatment of certain patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) and the standard of care for preoperative management, there are associated risks. Delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction (DHTR) is a risk of PRBC transfusion occurring 2 to 20 days from transfusion and typically presents with severe pain characteristic of vaso-occlusive crisis, fever, and hemolytic anemia. DHTRs are uncommon, occurring in only 4% to 11% of transfused patients with SCD, but may be catastrophic in nature with progression to multiorgan failure within hours. Here, we describe a case of a 20-year-old female with sickle cell SS disease who developed a severe DHTR 5 days following an elective preoperative PRBC transfusion, and rapidly progressed to multiorgan failure and death. This is the first reported case of a catastrophic DHTR in a patient with SCD without any detectable known or new alloantibodies.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anemia, Hemolytic / blood*
  • Anemia, Hemolytic / etiology
  • Anemia, Sickle Cell / blood*
  • Anemia, Sickle Cell / therapy*
  • Erythrocyte Transfusion*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Fever / blood
  • Fever / etiology
  • Humans
  • Isoantibodies / blood
  • Time Factors
  • Transfusion Reaction / blood*

Substances

  • Isoantibodies