Relationship between allergic transfusion reactions and allergic predisposition among pediatric patients with hematological/oncological disease

Transfusion. 2022 May;62(5):1035-1044. doi: 10.1111/trf.16855. Epub 2022 Mar 16.

Abstract

Background: Allergic transfusion reactions (ATRs) manifest frequently as transfusion reactions, and their onset may be related to a patient's allergic predisposition. Moreover, although pediatric patients with hematological/oncological disease are more susceptible to ATRs, the relationship between allergic predisposition and ATRs remains to be fully clarified.

Study design and methods: Patients who were diagnosed with pediatric hematological/oncological disease and received transfusion at the study institutions were included. We determined patient background information related to their allergy history, measured the levels of allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) using sera obtained on diagnosis, and analyzed their associations with ATR onset.

Results: Of the 363 patients analyzed, 144 developed ATRs. Multivariate analysis identified cases with high basophils in the peripheral blood, and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus- and egg white-specific IgEs were involved in the development of ATR in all age groups. Meanwhile, a history of food allergies, and positivity for Japanese cypress- and D. pteronyssinus-specific IgEs were risk factors for developing ATRs in the <5 years age group. Moreover, patients aged 5-<10 years with a history of asthma, allergic rhinitis, pollinosis, or atopic dermatitis, and those aged ≥10 years with positivity for dog dander-specific IgE were at risk for developing ATRs.

Conclusion: The allergic constitution of patients plays a role in ATR onset even in pediatric hematological/oncological diseases. Therefore, advance confirmation of a patient's allergic constitution may partly predict the onset of ATRs. However, since multiple allergic predispositions within complex mechanisms may be involved in the onset of ATRs, further verification is required.

Keywords: allergic rhinitis; allergic sensitization; asthma; atopic dermatitis; hay fever; pollinosis.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Basophils
  • Child
  • Disease Susceptibility / complications
  • Dogs
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity* / etiology
  • Immunoglobulin E / analysis
  • Risk Factors
  • Transfusion Reaction* / complications

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin E