Hemolytic transfusion reactions

Hemolytic transfusion reactions occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks transfused blood cells that it recognizes as foreign. This typically happens if the blood type doesn’t match correctly, causing the recipient's antibodies to target and destroy the donor red blood cells. Symptoms can include fever, chills, back pain, dark urine, and in severe cases, shock. These reactions can be dangerous, so careful blood typing and cross-matching are essential before transfusions to ensure compatibility and prevent immune responses.