What is a blood transfusion?

A blood transfusion is when donated blood is given to you intravenously, directly into your bloodstream. Usually it is a component of blood which is given.

When is a blood transfusion necessary?

Blood transfusion is important in the treatment of many medical problems such as cancer and blood disorders, and in the treatment of some injuries and major surgical procedures when blood loss has occurred.

REASONS FOR BLOOD TRANSFUSION

Blood and blood products are used for a number of purposes, but the three main reasons for blood transfusion are: to correct anaemia (a low haemoglobin level) to replace blood lost by bleeding, either during surgery or because of an accident to replace other constituents of blood, such as coagulation factors.

IgM AND IgG (NATURALLY-OCCURRING AND IMMUNE) ANTI-A AND ANTI-B

All individuals, except those who are group AB, produce IgM anti-A and/ or anti-B. Some, particularly those who are group O, also produce IgG antibodies. It is thought that these are the result of stimulation by A- and B-like antigens commonly found in the environment, food, etc. When someone has IgG anti-AB, the amount of IgM anti-AB is usually high and the term high-titre anti-AB or high-titre O is used. The serum of these individuals will often lyse A and/or B cells in the reverse grouping. These hightitre antibodies are important in two situations: 1. Transfusion of group O blood or plasma to people who are not group O.If group O plasma containing high-titre anti-AB is transfused into an A or B person, there could be some red cell destruction a transfusion reaction. It is therefore preferable not to transfuse a person who is not group O with group O products. If it is unavoidable, select units from donors that do not lyse A and/or B cells in the serum group or remove the plasma aseptically from the red cells. 2. In pregnancy, when an O mother has an A or B infant. It is worth noting if the maternal serum lyses A and/or B cells as IgG anti-AB could have crossed the placenta and destroyed the fetal red cells. At birth, the baby could suffer from the effects of anaemia and jaundice as a result of the red cell destruction. However, haemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) of this sort is far less severe than that caused by anti-D, and tests for quantifying IgG anti-AB during pregnancy are of little value in predicting whether the baby will suffer. There is, therefore, no value in performing any further tests during pregnancy.