Transfusion-Related Acute Lung Injury Risk Mitigation: An Update

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-1-2017

Publication Title

Vox sanguinis

Abstract

Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is a life-threatening complication of transfusion. Greater understanding of the pathophysiology of this syndrome has much improved during the last two decades. Plasma-containing components from female donors with leucocyte antibodies were responsible for the majority of TRALI fatalities before mitigation strategies were implemented. Over the past 15 years, measures to mitigate risk for TRALI have been implemented worldwide and they continued to evolve with time. The AABB requires that all plasma containing components and whole blood for transfusion must be collected from men, women who have not been pregnant, or women who have tested negative for human leucocyte antigen antibodies. Although the incidence of TRALI has decreased following the institution of TRALI mitigation strategies, TRALI is still the most common cause of transfusion-associated death in the United States. In this review, we focus on TRALI risk mitigation strategies. We describe the measures taken by blood collection facilities to reduce the risk of TRALI in the United States, Canada and European countries. We also review the literature for the effectiveness of these measures.

Medical Subject Headings

Blood Donors; Blood Transfusion; Female; Humans; Incidence; Isoantibodies; Male; Pregnancy; Risk Factors; Transfusion-Related Acute Lung Injury

PubMed ID

28948604

Volume

112

Issue

8

First Page

694

Last Page

703

Share

COinS