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Multicenter Study
. 2009 Jan;7(1):35-8.
doi: 10.2450/2008.0018-08.

Adverse reactions in blood and apheresis donors: experience from two Italian transfusion centres

Isabella Crocco  1 , Massimo Franchini, Giovanni Garozzo, Anna Rosa Gandini, Giorgio Gandini, Pietro Bonomo, Giuseppe Aprili
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Adverse reactions in blood and apheresis donors: experience from two Italian transfusion centres

Isabella Crocco et al. Blood Transfus. 2009 Jan.

Abstract

Background: Blood and apheresis donations are widely considered to be safe with a low incidence of adverse reactions and injuries; however, data reported in the medical literature on the prevalence of adverse events in donors and studies on the predictive risk factors for donor reactions are limited and contradictory.

Methods: From January 2002 to December 2006 we recorded every adverse reaction verified during 240,596 consecutive blood and apheresis donations (183,855 homologous whole blood donations, 6,669 autologous whole blood donations, 38,647 plasmapheresis, 2,641 plateletpheresis and 8,784 multicomponent donations) at the Italian Transfusion Centres of Verona and Ragusa,.

Results: Using a special, pre-arranged form within the quality system, a total of 686 adverse reactions (related to 0.28% of all donations) were recorded. Vasovagal reactions, mostly of mild intensity, were the most commonly observed adverse reactions, with a frequency of 0.20% (487/ 240,596). The frequency of the vasovagal reactions varied according to the different types of donation, being 0.19% (346/183,855) for homologous whole blood donations, 0.24% (16/6,669) for autologous whole blood donations, 0.16% (63/38,647) for plasmapheresis, 0.68% (18/2,641) for plateletpheresis and 0.49 (43/8,784) for multicomponent donations. Citrate toxicity was reported in 0.38% (189/50,072) of apheresis donations. Severe adverse reactions were very rare, as they occurred in 0.004% of the donations (10/240,596).

Conclusions: In conclusion, the results of our 5-year survey document that apheresis and blood donation are safe procedures for the donor with a low incidence of adverse reactions; the adverse reactions that did occur were mostly mild and resolved rapidly.

Keywords: adverse events; apheresis; blood donation.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Type of donations during the study period
Figure 2
Figure 2
Types of adverse reactions
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

  • Comments on Adverse reactions in blood donors.
    Hosseini MJ, Latiff L, Hassan ST, Hanachi P. Hosseini MJ, et al. Blood Transfus. 2010 Jan;8(1):71. doi: 10.2450/2009.0095-09. Blood Transfus. 2010. PMID: 20104283 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

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