Acute Intravascular Hemolysis Following an ABO Non-Identical Platelet Transfusion: A Case Report and Literature Review. 2019

Imran A Moinuddin, and Peter Millward, and Craig H Fletcher
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI, USA.

BACKGROUND Platelet transfusion is a common clinical practice required for therapeutic purposes in the setting of symptomatic thrombocytopenia, and, in some cases, prophylactically for asymptomatic thrombocytopenia. Crossmatch compatibility is not routinely done for platelet transfusions, and transfusion of ABO non-identical platelets has been adapted as an acceptable clinical practice. Acute intravascular hemolysis due to ABO non-identical platelets is a rare but clinically significant entity. Our case report reinforces the importance of a vigilant clinical approach in case of ABO non-identical platelet transfusions. CASE REPORT We report the case of 61-year-old woman with blood group A, with chemotherapy-induced asymptomatic thrombocytopenia, who developed acute intravascular hemolysis following transfusion of group O single-donor platelets (SDPs). The patient was transfused 1 unit of single-donor platelets for bleeding prophylaxis, as her platelet count dropped to less than 10×10⁹/L due to chemotherapy that she was receiving for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Immediately after transfusion, the patient noticed cherry-colored urine; and within 12 h of transfusion, her hemoglobin dropped by more than 2.5 g/dL. A post-transfusion immunohematology work-up showed positive DAT and high titers of anti-A1 isohemagglutinins in the platelet donor, supporting the diagnosis of acute intravascular hemolysis due to ABO non-identical platelets. CONCLUSIONS The possibility of acute intravascular hemolysis should be kept in mind in cases of transfusion of group O single donor platelets to non-group O recipients. ABO non-identical platelets, even with low isohemagglutinin titers, can cause significant adverse effects, particularly in newborns, children, and immunosuppressed and transfusion-dependent patients; therefore, a cautious clinical approach is recommended.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D001787 Blood Group Incompatibility An antigenic mismatch between donor and recipient blood. Antibodies present in the recipient's serum may be directed against antigens in the donor product. Such a mismatch may result in a transfusion reaction in which, for example, donor blood is hemolyzed. (From Saunders Dictionary & Encyclopedia of Laboratory Medicine and Technology, 1984). ABO Compatibility,ABO Incompatibility,Blood Group ABO Incompatibility,Blood Type Incompatibility,Rh Compatibility,Rh Incompatibility,ABO Compatibilities,ABO Incompatibilities,Blood Group Incompatibilities,Blood Type Incompatibilities,Compatibility, ABO,Compatibility, Rh,Incompatibilities, Blood Group,Incompatibility, ABO,Incompatibility, Blood Group,Incompatibility, Blood Type,Incompatibility, Rh,Rh Compatibilities,Rh Incompatibilities
D005260 Female Females
D006461 Hemolysis The destruction of ERYTHROCYTES by many different causal agents such as antibodies, bacteria, chemicals, temperature, and changes in tonicity. Haemolysis,Extravascular Hemolysis,Intravascular Hemolysis,Extravascular Hemolyses,Haemolyses,Hemolyses, Extravascular,Hemolyses, Intravascular,Hemolysis, Extravascular,Hemolysis, Intravascular,Intravascular Hemolyses
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000017 ABO Blood-Group System The major human blood type system which depends on the presence or absence of two antigens A and B. Type O occurs when neither A nor B is present and AB when both are present. A and B are genetic factors that determine the presence of enzymes for the synthesis of certain glycoproteins mainly in the red cell membrane. ABH Blood Group,ABO Blood Group,ABO Factors,Blood Group H Type 1 Antigen,H Blood Group,H Blood Group System,ABO Blood Group System,Blood Group, ABH,Blood Group, ABO,Blood Group, H,Blood-Group System, ABO,Factors, ABO,System, ABO Blood-Group
D013921 Thrombocytopenia A subnormal level of BLOOD PLATELETS. Thrombopenia,Thrombocytopenias,Thrombopenias
D016867 Immunocompromised Host A human or animal whose immunologic mechanism is deficient because of an immunodeficiency disorder or other disease or as the result of the administration of immunosuppressive drugs or radiation. Immunosuppressed Host,Immunocompromised Patient,Host, Immunocompromised,Host, Immunosuppressed,Hosts, Immunocompromised,Hosts, Immunosuppressed,Immunocompromised Hosts,Immunocompromised Patients,Immunosuppressed Hosts,Patient, Immunocompromised,Patients, Immunocompromised
D017713 Platelet Transfusion The transfer of blood platelets from a donor to a recipient or reinfusion to the donor. Blood Platelet Transfusion,Blood Platelet Transfusions,Platelet Transfusion, Blood,Platelet Transfusions,Platelet Transfusions, Blood,Transfusion, Blood Platelet,Transfusion, Platelet,Transfusions, Blood Platelet,Transfusions, Platelet

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