Sickle cell hemolytic transfusion reaction

Sickle cell hemolytic transfusion reaction syndrome is a unique problem in SCD patients. Owing to alloimmunization, an acute or delayed transfusion reaction may occur. Delayed reactions typically occur 5 to 20 days after transfusion. Alloantibodies and autoantibodies resulting from previous... 

Favorable results of exchange transfusion in a variety of diseases in adults, for example sickle cell disease, severe clotting disorders, hepatic failure, and acute hemolytic transfusion reactions, have been published (1). Today, however, machine apheresis procedures are more effective and safer for patients requiring exchange of cellular elements or plasma. Exchange transfusion is the most effective therapeutic procedure in the treatment of hemolytic disease of the newborn. Bilirubin removal prevents damage to the central nervous system caused by hyperbilirubinemia. In addition, sensitized erythrocytes are replaced by normally surviving cells and anemia is corrected. 

Diamond WJ, Brown FL Jr, Bitterman P, Klein HG, Davey RJ, Winslow RM. Delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction presenting as sickle-cell crisis. Ann Intern Med 1980 93(2) 231. ... 

Hemolytic transfusion reactions occur in 3% of all erythrocyte transfusions in patients with sickle cell disease. Most occur 4-14 days after transfusion in patients with alloimmunization from a previous transfusion. 

El Husseini A, Sabry A. Fatal hyper-hemolytic delayed transfusion reaction in sickle cell disease a case report and literature review. Am J Emerg Med 2010 28(9) 1062-8. 

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