Pathogenesis of the acute renal failure associated with incompatible transfusion

Analytic Reviews : Hemolytic Transfusion Reactions: A Review of Mechanisms, Sequelae, and Management

The transfusion of blood and blood products is an im portant therapeutic procedure, but it is associated with several potentially serious adverse effects. Among these complications are hemalytic reactions, which in most cases result from the interaction between donor red cell antigens and recipient plasma antibodies. Clinical mani festations and sequelae are largely determined by the physical and immunological characteristics of the anti gens and antibodies. Early recognition may be difficult in the anesthetized or intensively monitored patient. Acute hemolytic reactions are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality and may lead to life-threatening shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and renal failure. Fortunately, fatal hemolytic transfusion reactions are rare; they usually result from clerical errors. Proper diagnosis and management requires sound clinical judg ment, thorough laboratory investigation, and timely therapeutic intervention.

Paul Holland: contributions to transfusion medicine

Paul Holland began his career in transfusion medicine in 1963 as an assistant to Dr. Paul Schmidt in the Blood Bank at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He served at the NIH for 20 years and retired in 1983 with the rank of Captain in the Public Health Service. He subsequently became the Medical Director/CEO of the Sacramento Medical Foundation Blood Center, now Blood Source, a position he held for the next 21 years. Paul Holland has authored/co-authored 265 articles, chapters and monographs, mostly concerning issues relating to either viral hepatitis or HIV. In addition to his research career, Paul was a very active educator, having contributed importantly to the development of many current thought leaders in transfusion medicine. His distinguished career also included important administrative roles in national and international organizations relevant to transfusion medicine. He also was the recipient of many honors and awards which has won him wide-spread renown and the respect of his many colleagues.

Risks of hemolysis due to anti-A and anti-B caused by the transfusion of blood or blood components containing ABO-incompatible plasma

BACKGROUND

The increasing use of fresh blood group O whole blood in acute trauma medicine makes it important to reevaluate the issue of hemolytic reactions related to the transfusion of ABO-incompatible plasma.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

This review summarizes and evaluates published articles and case reports concerning hemolytic reactions in connection with the transfusion of group O whole blood or blood products to nongroup O recipients.

RESULTS

In 1945-1986, 15 nonmilitary publications reported hemolytic transfusion reactions with group O blood/blood products. All patients recovered except for two fatalities. Late in World War II and during the Korean and Vietnam wars and onward in Iraq and Afghanistan only "low anti-A, anti-B titer" group O whole blood has been used as universal blood. In spite of a large number of units transfused, there are no reports of hemolytic reactions. Twenty-five publications report hemolytic reactions after transfusion of group O platelets to nongroup O recipients. In all patients but one, the titer of the implicated A- or B-antibody was >100 (saline) or >400 (antiglobulin) and all cases with an infused volume of incompatible plasma <200 mL were related to anti-A or anti-B antiglobulin titers >1000.

CONCLUSION

In emergency lifesaving resuscitation, the risk of hemolytic transfusion reactions from transfusion of group O blood to nongroup O recipients constitutes risk that is outweighed by the benefits. A low titer of anti-A/B will minimize the risk for a hemolytic reaction, particularly if the screening is repeated after an immunization episode, e.g., blood transfusion, vaccination, or pregnancy.

Recurrent acute renal failure complicating IgG warm-type autoimmune intravascular haemolysis

A 44-year-old woman experienced recurrent episodes of massive intravascular haemolysis complicated by acute oliguric renal failure over a period of 22 years. The haemolysis was induced by IgG warm type autoantibody and complement and responded to corticosteroid therapy. The renal failure was treated effectively by dialysis. To our knowledge, such a life long occurrence of recurrent intravascular haemolysis induced by IgG warm type autoantibodies together with renal failure has not been reported before.

Perioperative renal dysfunction and cardiovascular anesthesia: concerns and controversies

In patients with renal disease undergoing cardiovascular surgery, perioperative management continues to be a challenge. Traditional answers have turned into new questions with the introduction of new agents and the redesign of old techniques. For ARF prevention, early recognition of pending deleterious compensatory changes is critical. Theoretically, therapeutic intervention designed to prevent ischemic renal failure should be designed to preserve the balance between RBF and oxygen delivery on one hand and oxygen demand on the other. Maintenance of adequate cardiac output distribution to the kidney is determined by the relative ratio of renal artery vascular resistance to systemic vascular resistance. Indeed, it should not be surprising to learn that norepinephrine (despite its vasoconstricting effect) has been reported to have no deleterious renal effects in patients with low systemic vascular resistance. Until recently, strategies for the treatment of ARF have been directed to supportive care with dialysis (to allow tubular regeneration). Various therapeutic maneuvers have been introduced in an attempt to accelerate the recovery of glomerular filtration, including dialysis, nutritional regimens, and new pharmacologic agents. A recent small prospective trial of low-dose dopamine in the prophylaxis of ARF in patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm repair showed no benefit in those patients receiving dopamine. Conversely, the effects of intravenous atrial natriuretic peptide in the treatment of patients with ARF appear to offer benefit in patients with oliguria. Among 121 patients with oliguric renal failure, 63% of those who received a 24-hour infusion of atrial natriuretic peptide required dialysis within 2 weeks compared with 87% who did not. Whether this effect will be borne out in the future remains to be determined. The administration of epidermal growth factor after induction of ischemic ARF in rats has been shown to enhance tubular regeneration and accelerate recovery of kidney function. Human growth factor administration has been shown to increase GFR 130% greater than baseline in patients with chronic renal failure, but no data for clinical ARF have been reported. In addition, there have been significant improvements in dialysis technology in the treatment of ARF. Modern dialysis uses bicarbonate as a buffer as opposed to acetate, which reduces cardiovascular instability, and has more precise regulation of volume removal. Dialysate profiles and temperatures improve hemodynamics and reduce intradialytic hypotension. Techniques of hemodialysis without anticoagulation have reduced bleeding complications. Finally, dialysis membranes activate neutrophils and complement less with the biocompatible membranes used today that reduce recovery time and dialysis treatment. Evidence indicates that activation of complement and neutrophils by older dialysis membranes caused a greater incidence of hypotension, adding to ischemic renal injury. It remains to be determined whether early and frequent dialysis with biocompatible membranes, as well as other therapeutic interventions, will increase the survival of patients with perioperative ARF.

Quality of blood prepared for autotransfusion in primary cemented total hip replacement

We have measured levels of contaminants (products of cell lysis and other substances) in blood salvaged from patients undergoing primary cemented total hip replacement. Washing of this blood removed an average of 91.4% of the free haemoglobin mass, reduced white cell lysozyme concentrations by 86% and almost totally eliminated fats and particulate matter. Osmotic fragility was significantly improved by washing although not to control levels.

Intraoperative blood salvage: medical controversies

Although a great deal has been learned about the medical aspects of intraoperative blood salvage, several fundamental medical issues remain controversial. As pressure increases to maximize the use of IBS, more research will be needed on the application of salvage techniques in cancer surgery and in the presence of bacterial contamination. The reintroduction of the use of devices that do not wash salvaged blood have reopened investigations into the effects of reinfusion of partially hemolyzed and partially clotted salvaged blood on coagulation, renal function, and cardiopulmonary performance. More studies are also needed so that empirically based standards of practice for the collection and storage of salvaged blood can be established. No longer confined to a few pioneering surgical departments, IBS is now widely practiced and likely to continue to grow rapidly. Knowledge and research of the medical issues surrounding its use will become increasingly valuable in transfusion medicine.

Red cell alloantibodies in patients with thalassemia

We present the results of tests carried out to detect alloimmunization against red cells in 1,200 patients (607 males and 593 females), transfused and followed up during the period 1981-1987 in our hospital. Of these patients, 1,135 were thalassemic and 65 had sickle cell/beta-thalassemia. In 162 patients who received blood matched for the AB0, rhesus and Kell systems from their first transfusion, the immunization rate was very low (3.7%). In a pilot group consisting of 83 patients with the same clinical characteristics, who received blood matched only for the AB0 and Rh-D antigens, there was a significant difference in the frequency of alloantibodies (15.7%, p less than 0.001). Of 1,038 patients who received blood only matched for AB0 and Rh-D 244 (23.5%) with one or more red cell alloantibodies were identified. Of these 1,038 patients, 973 were exclusively thalassemic. In 220 (22.6%) of them, alloantibodies were found. The sickle cell beta-thalassemia patients presented alloantibodies with a higher frequency (36.9%, 24/65). Only one antibody was found in 114 patients (51.8%) and two or more in 106 patients (48.2%). The alloimmunization significantly concerned the rhesus (34.0%) and Kell (29.8%) systems. Anti-Kell was most often identified (28.5%). Alloimmunization appears considerably lower in patients in whom blood transfusion is started before the age of 3 than in those in whom it is started after that age (20.9 vs. 47.5%, p less than 0.0001).

Acute renal failure

Although a wide variety of disease processes can result in a failure of renal excretory function, the vast majority of cases with "acute renal failure" (ARF) are due to the syndrome of acute tubular necrosis (ATN). The syndrome is usually initiated by an acute injury to the proximal renal tubular epithelial cells by ischemic or nephrotoxic events. This is followed by progressive and often rapid increases in the concentration of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine. In the average case, the failure of renal excretory function persists for 1 to 3 weeks, to be followed by recovery. Oliguria (urine volume less than 400 ml) is present in about half of the patients. The pathogenesis of the retention of nitrogenous waste in human ATN is the subject of controversy, but the balance of data in most patients suggests that the predominant mechanism is a profound secondary vasoconstriction in response to tubular cell injury. This may represent a teleologically appropriate response to prevent catastrophic losses of fluid that would occur, if the normally high rates of glomerular filtration continued, in the face of reduced tubular reabsorptive capacity. The mechanisms by which the tubular cell injury is communicated to the vasculature, and the mediators of the hemodynamic changes, remain to be established. The differential diagnosis in a patient with ARF, usually involves exclusion of an obstruction to the urinary tract as an initial step. The next step is to differentiate the patients with ATN from those who have renal hypoperfusion in response to events in the systemic circulation, but who otherwise have functionally and structurally intact kidneys, i.e., prerenal ARF. The kidneys of patients with prerenal ARF exhibit the normal renal response to an acute reduction in renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate (GFR). This consists of avid reabsorption of the filtered salt and H2O, so that a small amount of concentrated and NaCl-poor urine is elaborated. The tubular cell injury in ATN syndromes prevents this response from maximally occurring, so that the urine is isosmotic and relatively rich in NaCl.

Acute renal failure following poisonous snakebite

This study describes acute renal failure (ARF) following snakebite in humans and the effects of viperide venoms on the renal structure and function in subhuman primates. ARF developed in 45 of 157 patients with a history of snakebite admitted to the hospitals of the Postgraduate Medical Institute, Chandigarh, India. They were studied clinically, hematologically, and in 35 cases, for renal histopathology. All 45 were treated with antibiotics, and 8 received anti-snake venom. Ten cases had bilateral renal cortical necrosis (BRCN), eight of whom died; less severe acute tubular lesions (ATL) occurred in 23 patients, four of whom died (P less than .001). Sepsis was significantly more common with BRCN than ATL (P less than .05). No statistical difference was found between these groups in bleeding incidence, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), hemolysis, or hypotension. Monkeys given lethal doses of viperide venom developed hypotensive shock, DIC, and hemolysis, with significantly reduced serum complement, and died within 24 hours. However, no renal functional changes or lesions were found. Monkeys given sublethal doses of viperide venom showed a significant increase in serum creatinine levels after 48 hours, and renal lesions were observed in a majority of animals. In conclusion, ARF in snakebite victims appears to be multifactorial in origin. Although hypotension, hemolysis, and DIC are likely to be important pathogenetic factors, a direct cytotoxic effect of the venom on the kidney in producing ARF cannot be excluded.

Clinical presentation of haemolytic transfusion reactions

Haemolytic transfusion reactions can be defined as the occurrence after transfusion of measurably increased destruction of red cells, of donor or recipient, by alloantibodies. They may be acute (occurring within 24 hours of transfusion) or delayed (when signs of red cell destruction do not occur until 4 to 10 days after transfusion). The severest signs and symptoms of acute reactions follow intravascular red cell lysis and progress to anaemia, fever, haemoglobinuria and jaundice. The subjective responses of pain, restlessness, nausea, skin flushing, dyspnoea and shock are mediated by cleavage products of complement (C3a, C5a) activated by red cell antigen-antibody reaction. The bleeding and renal failure complications that follow are multi-factoral in aetiology but also stem from the activation of intravascular clotting and from the vasomotor disturbances following histamine and kinin release.

Experimental acute renal failure in primates. Clinical and histopathologic evaluation in light and electron microscopy

Acute renal failure or its equivalent, acute tubular necrosis, was induced in rhesus monkeys by a combination of dehydration, hemorrhagic hypovolemia, and packed cell transfusion. Clinicopathologic changes were studied at different time intervals. Increasing edematous swelling and disintegration of the epithelial cells in the convoluted tubules, thick loops of Henle, and collecting tubules during the first four hours were conspicuous. As a result, intratubular cellular detritus, red blood cells, and various types of casts were increased progressively between one and four hours, and decreased thereafter. As the time progressed, edema was subsiding but the absorption granules and fat droplets were increased in size and number from one to twenty-four hours. These findings would indicate widespread cellular degeneration and necrosis. Consequently, tubular integrity was impaired leading to necrosis, denuded tubular basement membranes, and occasional tubulorrhexis. Concurrently, some dilated peritubular or interstitial capillaries were ruptured releasing red blood cells and cellular debris, which eventually were picked up by the damaged tubules. Although the regeneration of the renal parenchyma was in progress after sixteen hours, groups of subcapsular tubules were dilated showing flattened epithelial cells. The glomerular capillaries were either dilated or engorged, empty or collapsed during the experiment. Bowman's spaces contained red blood cells and varying amounts of cellular debris. Although the clinicopathologic changes reported here may be attributed to one or more of the following factors, hypoxia, toxic effects and dehydration, most of the changes were apparently due to hypoxia.

Unusual response to ABO incompatible blood transfusion

Three units of group A blood were inadvertently administered to a group O recipient during surgery without evidence of hemoglobinemia, hemoglobinuria, hypotension, disseminated intravascular coagulation, acute renal tubular necrosis, or other signs and symptoms of transfusion reaction. The recipient had normal concentrations of IgG, IgA, and IgM as well as complement (C3) prior to transfusion and anti-A agglutinins titered to 64 (titer of 128 by the antiglobulin technic). Seventeen hours following the transfusion, 28 per cent of the circulating red blood cells were group A (equivalent to 475 ml of packed cells); they were eliminated by day 5 without evidence of hemoglobinuria, hemoglobinemia or hyperbilirubinemia. Anti-A titers (antiglobulin) had risen from a posttransfusion low of 4 to 4,096 by day 10. After treatment of serum with 2-mercaptoethanol, however, hemolytic activity which was first noted on day 5 was lost and the antiglobulin titer dropped to 24 which suggested that most of the anti-A produced in response to the transfusion was IgM rather than IgG. The anti-A titer had dropped to essentialyy pretransfusion levels and the majority of anti-A present was IgM by day 91. The recipient suffered no untoward effects from the transfusion and was in good health three months following the transfusion.