Surveillance of Adverse Transfusion Reactions in Multi-transfused Thalassaemia Patients in Mirpur, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan

Objective: The current study was carried out to determine the incidence of adverse transfusion reactions occurring in the multi-transfused thalassaemia patients. Study Design: Cross-sectional prospective study Place and Duration: This cross-sectional prospective study was conducted from Oct 2015 – Mar 2016, at the Thalassaemia Care Centre, Divisional Headquarters Hospital, Mirpur, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. Materials and Methods: The transfusion reactions in the Thalassaemia Centre were recorded through a standardized adverse reaction notification form. The reactions were evaluated and classified on the basis of their clinical features. A standardized patient haemovigiliance reporting form, developed by the Safe Blood Transfusion Programme, was used to collect the adverse reactions data from the 435 registered thalassaemia patients, who regularly receive transfusions in the Thalassaemia Centre of the DHQ Hospital. Results: Out of 2,193 transfusions, 577 (26.3%) suffered immediate/acute transfusion reactions. The commonest reactions were FNHTR followed by allergic reactions. Conclusion: This is the first time that a serious effort was made to record haemovigilance data and analyze it. The study will help to promote haemovigilance in thalassaemia care set-ups and in hospitals also.