BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuABO incompatibilityTransfusion reaction - hemolytic; Acute hemolytic transfusion reaction; AHTR; Blood incompatibility - ABOA, B, AB, and O are the 4 major blood types. The types are based on small substances (molecules) on the surface of the blood cells.When people who have one blood type receive blood from someone with a different blood type, it may cause their immune system to react. This is called ABO incompatibility.Due to modern testing techniques, this problem is very rare. Causes The different blood types are:Type A Type B Type AB Type O People who have one blood type may form proteins (antibodies) that cause their immune system to react against one or more of the other blood types. AntibodiesAn antibody is a protein produced by the body's immune system when it detects harmful substances, called antigens. Examples of antigens include micr...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Being exposed to another type of blood can cause a reaction. This is important when someone needs to receive a blood transfusion or have an organ transplant. The blood types must be compatible to avoid an ABO incompatibility reaction.For example:People with type A blood will react against type B or type AB blood. People with type B blood will react against type A or type AB blood. People with type O blood will react against type A, type B, or type AB blood. People with type AB blood will not react against type A, type B, type AB, or type O blood. Type O blood does not cause an immune response when it is given to people with type A, type B, or type AB blood. This is why type O blood cells can be given to people of any blood type. People with type O blood are called universal donors. But people with type O can only receive type O blood.Both blood and plasma transfusions must be matched to avoid an immune reaction. Before anyone receives blood, both the blood and the person receiving it are tested carefully to avoid a reaction. Usually, a reaction occurs because of a clerical error causing someone to receive incompatible blood. Symptoms The following are symptoms of ABO incompatible transfusion reactions:Transfusion reactionsA hemolytic transfusion reaction is a serious complication that can occur after a blood transfusion. The reaction occurs when the red blood cells th...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Low back pain Blood in urine Chills Feeling of "impending doom" Fever Nausea and vomiting Shortness of breath Increased heart rate Pain at infusion site Chest pain Dizziness Bronchospasm (spasm of the muscles lining the lung; causes cough) Yellow skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice) JaundiceJaundice is a yellow color of the skin, mucus membranes, or eyes. The yellow coloring comes from bilirubin, a byproduct of old red blood cells. Jau...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Acute kidney failure Low blood pressure Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)Disseminated intravascular coagulation ...Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a serious disorder in which the proteins that control blood clotting become overactive.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Exams and Tests The health care provider will perform a physical exam. Blood tests will usually show:The bilirubin level is high Bilirubin levelThe bilirubin blood test measures the level of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellowish pigment found in bile, a fluid made by the liver. Bi...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The complete blood count (CBC) shows damage to red blood cells or anemia Complete blood countA complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article AnemiaAnemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. Different type...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The recipient's and donor's blood are not compatible Elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) Elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and blood creatinine; in case of renal injury Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)BUN stands for blood urea nitrogen. Urea nitrogen is what forms when protein breaks down. A test can be done to measure the amount of urea nitrogen ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CreatinineThe creatinine blood test measures the level of creatinine in the blood. This test is done to see how well your kidneys are working. Creatinine in t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Prolonged prothrombin time or partial thromboplastin time (findings of DIC) Positive direct antiglobulin test (DAT)Direct antiglobulin testThe Coombs test looks for antibodies that may stick to your red blood cells and cause red blood cells to die too early.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Urine tests show the presence of hemoglobin due to breakdown of red blood cells. Treatment In case of any reaction, transfusion should be stopped immediately. Treatment may also include: Medicines used to treat allergic reactions (antihistamines) Medicines used to treat swelling and allergies (steroids) Fluids given through a vein (intravenously) Medicines to raise blood pressure if it drops too low Outlook (Prognosis) ABO incompatibility can be a very serious problem that can result in death. With the right and timely treatment, a full recovery is expected. Possible Complications Complications that may result include:Kidney failure Low blood pressure needing intensive care Death When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you have recently had a blood transfusion or transplant and you have symptoms of ABO incompatibility. Prevention Careful testing of donor and recipient blood types before transfusion or transplant can prevent this problem.Open ReferencesReferencesKaide CG, Thompson LR. Transfusion therapy: blood and blood products. In: Roberts JR, Custalow CB, Thomsen TW, eds. Roberts and Hedges' Clinical Procedures in Emergency Medicine and Acute Care. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 28.Manis JP. Blood components, product modifications, and blood donor screening. In: Rifai N, Chiu RWK, Young I, Burnham CAD, Wittwer CT, eds. Tietz Textbook of Laboratory Medicine. 7th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2023:chap 91.Nester T. Blood component therapy and transfusion reactions. In: Kellerman RD, Rakel DP, eds. Conn's Current Therapy 2022. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:408-415.AllVideoImagesTogJaundiced infant - illustration Newborn jaundice (producing yellow skin) can have many causes, but the majority of these infants have a condition called physiological jaundice, a natural occurrence in the newborn due to the immature liver. This type of jaundice is short term, generally lasting only a few days. Jaundice should be evaluated by a physician until decreasing or normal levels of bilirubin are measured in the blood.Jaundiced infantillustrationAntibodies - illustration Antigens are large molecules (usually proteins) on the surface of cells, viruses, fungi, bacteria, and some non-living substances such as toxins, chemicals, drugs, and foreign particles. The immune system recognizes antigens and produces antibodies that destroy substances containing antigens. AntibodiesillustrationJaundiced infant - illustration Newborn jaundice (producing yellow skin) can have many causes, but the majority of these infants have a condition called physiological jaundice, a natural occurrence in the newborn due to the immature liver. This type of jaundice is short term, generally lasting only a few days. Jaundice should be evaluated by a physician until decreasing or normal levels of bilirubin are measured in the blood.Jaundiced infantillustrationAntibodies - illustration Antigens are large molecules (usually proteins) on the surface of cells, viruses, fungi, bacteria, and some non-living substances such as toxins, chemicals, drugs, and foreign particles. The immune system recognizes antigens and produces antibodies that destroy substances containing antigens. AntibodiesillustrationRelated Information Review Date: 4/29/2022 Reviewed By: Todd Gersten, MD, Hematology/Oncology, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, Wellington, FL. 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ABO incompatibilityTransfusion reaction - hemolytic; Acute hemolytic transfusion reaction; AHTR; Blood incompatibility - ABOA, B, AB, and O are the 4 major blood types. The types are based on small substances (molecules) on the surface of the blood cells.When people who have one blood type receive blood from someone with a different blood type, it may cause their immune system to react. This is called ABO incompatibility.Due to modern testing techniques, this problem is very rare. Causes The different blood types are:Type A Type B Type AB Type O People who have one blood type may form proteins (antibodies) that cause their immune system to react against one or more of the other blood types. AntibodiesAn antibody is a protein produced by the body's immune system when it detects harmful substances, called antigens. Examples of antigens include micr...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Being exposed to another type of blood can cause a reaction. This is important when someone needs to receive a blood transfusion or have an organ transplant. The blood types must be compatible to avoid an ABO incompatibility reaction.For example:People with type A blood will react against type B or type AB blood. People with type B blood will react against type A or type AB blood. People with type O blood will react against type A, type B, or type AB blood. People with type AB blood will not react against type A, type B, type AB, or type O blood. Type O blood does not cause an immune response when it is given to people with type A, type B, or type AB blood. This is why type O blood cells can be given to people of any blood type. People with type O blood are called universal donors. But people with type O can only receive type O blood.Both blood and plasma transfusions must be matched to avoid an immune reaction. Before anyone receives blood, both the blood and the person receiving it are tested carefully to avoid a reaction. Usually, a reaction occurs because of a clerical error causing someone to receive incompatible blood. Symptoms The following are symptoms of ABO incompatible transfusion reactions:Transfusion reactionsA hemolytic transfusion reaction is a serious complication that can occur after a blood transfusion. The reaction occurs when the red blood cells th...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Low back pain Blood in urine Chills Feeling of "impending doom" Fever Nausea and vomiting Shortness of breath Increased heart rate Pain at infusion site Chest pain Dizziness Bronchospasm (spasm of the muscles lining the lung; causes cough) Yellow skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice) JaundiceJaundice is a yellow color of the skin, mucus membranes, or eyes. The yellow coloring comes from bilirubin, a byproduct of old red blood cells. Jau...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Acute kidney failure Low blood pressure Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)Disseminated intravascular coagulation ...Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a serious disorder in which the proteins that control blood clotting become overactive.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Exams and Tests The health care provider will perform a physical exam. Blood tests will usually show:The bilirubin level is high Bilirubin levelThe bilirubin blood test measures the level of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellowish pigment found in bile, a fluid made by the liver. Bi...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The complete blood count (CBC) shows damage to red blood cells or anemia Complete blood countA complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article AnemiaAnemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. Different type...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The recipient's and donor's blood are not compatible Elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) Elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and blood creatinine; in case of renal injury Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)BUN stands for blood urea nitrogen. Urea nitrogen is what forms when protein breaks down. A test can be done to measure the amount of urea nitrogen ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CreatinineThe creatinine blood test measures the level of creatinine in the blood. This test is done to see how well your kidneys are working. Creatinine in t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Prolonged prothrombin time or partial thromboplastin time (findings of DIC) Positive direct antiglobulin test (DAT)Direct antiglobulin testThe Coombs test looks for antibodies that may stick to your red blood cells and cause red blood cells to die too early.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Urine tests show the presence of hemoglobin due to breakdown of red blood cells. Treatment In case of any reaction, transfusion should be stopped immediately. Treatment may also include: Medicines used to treat allergic reactions (antihistamines) Medicines used to treat swelling and allergies (steroids) Fluids given through a vein (intravenously) Medicines to raise blood pressure if it drops too low Outlook (Prognosis) ABO incompatibility can be a very serious problem that can result in death. With the right and timely treatment, a full recovery is expected. Possible Complications Complications that may result include:Kidney failure Low blood pressure needing intensive care Death When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you have recently had a blood transfusion or transplant and you have symptoms of ABO incompatibility. Prevention Careful testing of donor and recipient blood types before transfusion or transplant can prevent this problem.Open ReferencesReferencesKaide CG, Thompson LR. Transfusion therapy: blood and blood products. In: Roberts JR, Custalow CB, Thomsen TW, eds. Roberts and Hedges' Clinical Procedures in Emergency Medicine and Acute Care. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 28.Manis JP. Blood components, product modifications, and blood donor screening. In: Rifai N, Chiu RWK, Young I, Burnham CAD, Wittwer CT, eds. Tietz Textbook of Laboratory Medicine. 7th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2023:chap 91.Nester T. Blood component therapy and transfusion reactions. In: Kellerman RD, Rakel DP, eds. Conn's Current Therapy 2022. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:408-415.