HYPOTENSIVE REACTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH PLATELET TRANSFUSIONS AND ANGIOTENSIN-CONVERTING ENZYME-INHIBITORS

Background and Objectives: To determine the cause of hypotensive react ions associated with platelet transfusions in coronary artery bypass s urgery patients. Materials and Methods: Platelet transfusion reactions that occurred during a 3-month period were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Eighteen transfusion reactions occurred in 16 patients. Sixte en of the reactions were hypotensive, and occurred in 14 patients tran sfused with platelets through negatively charged bedside leukocyte red uction filters. All 14 patients had received angiotensin-converting en zyme (ACE) inhibitors prior to transfusion. Conclusion: Preliminary fi ndings suggest a new type of transfusion reaction associated with the use of negatively charged leukocyte reduction filters during platelet transfusions to patients on ACE inhibitors.