Acute & emergency · UKMLA & AKT
Allergic and anaphylactic transfusion reactions
A free high-yield preview for the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test, covering how to recognise this condition. The full SA Note notes add investigations, management and complications, with practice questions on this topic.
Key high-yield points
- Symptoms begin within minutes of starting transfusion (sometimes after only a few millilitres)
- Anaphylaxis: urticaria, angioedema, bronchospasm/wheeze, hypotension, tachycardia - typically NO fever or haemoglobinuria
- Mild allergic reaction: urticaria only, haemodynamically stable
Fever + haemoglobinuria + back/flank pain + hypotension = acute haemolytic reaction, NOT anaphylaxis. Abdominal/chest/loin pain during transfusion also points to acute haemolytic reaction. These require fundamentally different management.
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