Frequency of Allergic Reactions in Cancer Patients
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70749/ijbr.v3i7.2748Keywords:
Allergic transfusion reactions, Cancer patients, Blood transfusion, Hemovigilance, OncologyAbstract
Objective: To determine the frequency of allergic transfusion reactions among patients suffering from cancer receiving blood and blood component transfusions. Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital from 17 January 2025 to 17 May 2025. Methodology: A total of 150 diagnosed cancer patients of both genders who received blood or blood component transfusions were included using non-probability consecutive sampling. Patients were monitored during and after transfusion for signs of allergic transfusion reactions. Data regarding demographic characteristics, type of malignancy, treatment modality, blood components transfused, and transfusion reactions were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS, and results were expressed as frequencies, percentages, mean, and standard deviation. Results: The mean age of patients was 55.48 ± 7.31 years, with a male predominance (56%). Allergic transfusion reactions were observed in 82 patients (54.7%). Urticaria (20.7%) was the most common presentation, followed by pruritus (12.0%) and skin rash (10.0%). A statistically significant association was found between type of malignancy and allergic transfusion reactions (p = 0.044), while no significant association was observed with age, gender, treatment modality, type of blood component, or number of transfusions. Conclusion: Allergic transfusion reactions are frequent among cancer patients receiving blood transfusions. Although most reactions are mild, their high occurrence necessitates careful monitoring and adoption of preventive transfusion strategies to improve patient safety.
Downloads
References
1. Ludwig H, Van Belle S, Barrett-Lee P, Birgegård G, Bokemeyer C, Gascón P, et al. The European Cancer Anaemia Survey (ECAS): a large, multinational, prospective survey defining the prevalence, incidence, and treatment of anaemia in cancer patients. European journal of cancer. 2004;40(15):2293-306.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca.2004.06.019
2. Link H, Kerkmann M, Holtmann L, Detzner M. Anemia diagnosis and therapy in malignant diseases: implementation of guidelines—a representative study. Supportive Care in Cancer. 2024;32(2):113.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-023-08267-4
3. Ali S, Farhan A, Qader I, Mohammed S. Chemotherapy-Induced Anemia in Adults Incidence and Treatment. Journal of Bursa Faculty of Medicine. 2024;2(2):34-49.
https://doi.org/10.61678/bursamed.1436846
4. Tong Z, Xu Z, Duan Y, Sun X, Qi B. The effect of erythropoiesis stimulating agents on lung cancer patients: a meta analysis. Clinical and Experimental Medicine. 2024;24(1):150.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10238-024-01391-3
5. Rizzo JD, Brouwers M, Hurley P, Seidenfeld J, Arcasoy MO, Spivak JL, et al. American Society of Clinical Oncology/American Society of Hematology clinical practice guideline update on the use of epoetin and darbepoetin in adult patients with cancer. Journal of clinical oncology. 2010;28(33):4996-5010.
https://doi.org/10.1200/jco.2010.29.2201
6. Goodnough LT, Levy JH, Murphy MF. Concepts of blood transfusion in adults. The Lancet. 2013;381(9880):1845-54.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(13)60650-9
7. Aggarwal P, Calderon Martinez E, Quijano Avalos E. An overview of the identification, prevention, and management of immunological reactions to blood transfusion. J Cardiol Cardiovasc Ther. 2023;18:1-8.
https://doi.org/10.19080/jocct.2023.18.555989
8. Tobian AA, Savage WJ, Tisch DJ, Thoman S, King KE, Ness PM. Prevention of allergic transfusion reactions to platelets and red blood cells through plasma reduction. Transfusion. 2011;51(8):1676-83.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1537-2995.2010.03008.x
9. Yanagisawa R, Ishimine N, Komori K, Kurata T, Saito S, Tanaka M, et al. Relationship between allergic transfusion reactions and allergic predisposition among pediatric patients with hematological/oncological disease. Transfusion. 2022;62(5):1035-44.
https://doi.org/10.1111/trf.16855
10. Li M, Li H, Lin W, Tong L, Dai L, Zhao Q, et al. MST1 bridges LYN and SHP-1 to suppress FcεRI-mediated mast cell activation and allergic responses. Cellular & Molecular Immunology. 2025:1-15.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41423-025-01374-8
11. de Wit YE, Vlaar R, Gouwerok E, Hamzeh-Cognasse H, van Mierlo G, Bulder I, et al. Platelet concentrates in platelet additive solutions generate less complement activation products during storage than platelets stored in plasma. Blood Transfusion. 2022;21(2):157.
https://doi.org/10.1111/trf.17061
12. Domen R. Adverse reactions associated with autologous blood transfusion: evaluation and incidence at a large academic hospital. Transfusion. 1998;38(3):296-300.
https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1537-2995.1998.38398222875.x
13. Chohan U, Najam S, Rajput KK, Rajput MK, Waqar SA, Yunus N. The Frequency of Blood Transfusion Reactions: A Retrospective Study from a Tertiary Care Hospital: Frequency of Blood Transfusion Reactions. Pakistan Journal of Health Sciences. 2025:157-61.
https://doi.org/10.54393/pjhs.v6i1.2701
14. Khalid S, Usman M, Khurshid M. Acute transfusion reactions encountered in patients at a tertiary care center. Journal of Pakistan Medical Association. 2010;60(10):832.
15. Domen RE, Hoeltge GA. Allergic transfusion reactions. Archives of pathology & laboratory medicine. 2003;127(3):316-20.
https://doi.org/10.5858/2003-127-0316-atr
16. Sandler SG, Eder AE, Goldman M, Winters JL. The entity of immunoglobulin A-related anaphylactic. Transfusion. 2015;55.
https://doi.org/10.1111/trf.12796
17. Savage WJ, Tobian AA, Savage JH, Wood RA, Schroeder JT, Ness PM. Scratching the surface of allergic transfusion reactions. Transfusion. 2013;53(6):1361-71.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1537-2995.2012.03892.x
18. Bolton‐Maggs PH, Cohen H. Serious H azards of T ransfusion (SHOT) haemovigilance and progress is improving transfusion safety. British journal of haematology. 2013;163(3):303-14.
https://doi.org/10.1111/bjh.12547
19. Gan S, Ping C, Yang W, Liuchun Y, Shu C, Hongbing H, et al. A single center experience of transfusion related adverse reaction in pediatric patients with malignant solid and hematological tumors. 2025.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Indus Journal of Bioscience Research
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
