Transfusion-associated anaphylactoid reactions associated with anti-IgA

Status: 
Ready to upload
Record number: 
1970
Adverse Occurrence type: 
MPHO Type: 
Estimated frequency: 
Rare
Time to detection: 
Minutes
Alerting signals, symptoms, evidence of occurrence: 
Unusual presentation of rigors, hypertension, transient monocytopenia,and neutropenia after receiving red cell transfusion.
Demonstration of imputability or root cause: 
Patient was found to be deficient in IgA (<0.05 mg/dL). Very high levels of anti-IgA of IgG class antibodies detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (>1000 U/mL). No symptoms after receiving washed red cell products.
Imputability grade: 
2 Probable
Groups audience: 
Suggest references: 
Neutropenia and monocytopenia in recurrent anaphylactoid reactions after red blood cell transfusions in a woman with immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency and anti-IgA. Transfusion. 2018 Oct;58(10):2320-2325
Expert comments for publication: 
Unusual reaction to 2 RBC units in the same patient who is IgA deficient with very high levels of anti-IgA antibodies. Symptoms like dyspnea, substernal pain, laryngeal edema and circulatory collapse that have been described in transfusion medicine test books and literature to be associated with anti-IgA reactions were not seen in this patient. However, the patient presented with anaphylactoid features such as rigors and hypertension, with transient monocytopenia and neutropenia.