SERIOUS ADVERSE EVENTS AFTER HPA-INCOMPATIBLE PLATELET TRANSFUSIONS IN AN ALLOIMMUNIZED PATIENT WITH LEUKEMIA

We describe an alloimmunized female patient who developed serious adve rse reactions when receiving HPA-incompatible platelet transfusions. S he had received 13 transfusions with random platelets before the first allergic reactions. Antibodies against both the human leucocyte antig ens (HLA) and several human platelet antigens (HPA) were detected at t he time of transfusions. When the patient received HLA- and HPA-compat ible platelets, no reactions followed the transfusions and platelet co unt increments were good. When she was transfused with platelets from donors with one foreign HLA antigen, her reactions were fever, chills and headache and the response to platelet transfusions was poor. When the platelets were HLA compatible but HPA incompatible, the reactions were repeatedly rapid pulse, shortness of breath, tightness of chest a nd wheezing interpretable as anaphylactoid reactions. Platelet count i ncrements were satisfactory. When rare side-effects occur after transf usion, detailed immunohaematological studies are indicated.