Blood transfusions are the most common types of transplants.
| Type of reaction | Features |
| Febrile reactions | Consists of fever and chills due to the release of cytokines from donor WBCs; caused by host antibodies reacting against antigens on donor WBCs |
| Allergic reactions including anaphylaxis | Consists of hives, itching, rarely anaphylaxis (especially in selective IgA deficiency patients); caused by antibodies to plasma proteins or other antigens in the donor blood |
| Hemolytic reactions | Presents with DIC, renal failure, back or flank pain, bloody urine, hemoglobinuria, hypotension, can be fatal; due to ABO or blood group antigen mismatch; caused by host antibodies to antigen on donor RBCs |
| Alloimmunization | Following a previous pregnancy, blood or blood product transfusion, patients may develop alloantibodies to RBCs; during a subsequent transfusion, these alloantibodies may cause a hemolytic transfusion reaction |
| Transfusion related acute lung injury | It is typically seen in pneumonia, recent surgery or pulmonary illness; antibodies to HLA or leukocyte antigens in the donor, react against host WBCs and tissues causing inflammation and acute pulmonary edema |
GVHD can occur after a blood transfusion. Massive transfusion may cause hypothermia, acidosis, coagulopathy and citrate toxicity. Electrolyte imbalances like hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia, hypokalemia or hyperkalemia may occur.
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