Emergency Medicine Practice Test 2025 – Complete Exam Preparation

Question: 1 / 400

What is the most common cause of an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction?

Allergic reaction

ABO incompatibility

The most common cause of an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction is ABO incompatibility. This happens when a patient receives blood that is not compatible with their own blood type, resulting in the recipient’s immune system attacking the transfused red blood cells. The antibodies in the recipient's plasma react with the donor red blood cells, leading to their destruction, which is known as hemolysis. This reaction can occur rapidly following transfusion and can lead to serious complications, including hemolytic shock, renal failure, and disseminated intravascular coagulation.

ABO incompatibility is particularly crucial to identify and prevent because it can be life-threatening and manifests with specific symptoms such as fever, chills, back pain, and dark urine. This highlights the importance of proper blood typing and crossmatching before transfusions, making ABO incompatibility a significant focus in transfusion safety protocols.

Get further explanation with Examzify DeepDiveBeta

Infection

Transfusion-related lung injury

Next Question

Report this question

Download Emergency Medicine Practice Test 2025 – Complete Exam Preparation PDF Study Guide
Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy