title: Acute transfusion reactions encountered in patients at a tertiary care centre in Punjab.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Blood transfusion is a life-saving procedure, which can occasionally be unsafe and result in a spectrum of adverse events. We aimed to determine the characteristics and type of acute transfusion reactions occurring in patients at a tertiary care centre.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was conducted at the Department of Immunohaematology and Blood Transfusion, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab. All acute transfusion reactions reported to the department from 1 Jan 2012 to 31 March 2013 were evaluated. All the adverse reactions were recorded, analysed and classified on the basis of their clinical features and laboratory tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period, 45 092 blood components were issued from the department and 190 transfusion reactions (0.42%) were reported. The most frequent were febrile non-haemolytic transfusion reactions (54.2%) followed by allergic reactions (36.3%), haemolytic reactions (1%) and non-specific reactions (8.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Each transfusion has to be monitored carefully with prompt recognition and treatment of acute transfusion reactions to decrease transfusion-related morbidity and mortality. Data from a well-functioning haemovigilance system can be used as a quality indicator for monitoring blood transfusion safety and contribute to evidence-based transfusion medicine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunohaematology and Blood Transfusion, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab 141001.
authors.forename: Manvi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunohaematology and Blood Transfusion, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab 141001.
authors.forename: Rajesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunohaematology and Blood Transfusion, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab 141001.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunohaematology and Blood Transfusion, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab 141001.
authors.forename: Amarjit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaur
mesh_terms: D058731:Blood Safety; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D065227:Transfusion Reaction