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Transfusion induced pulmonary oedema

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

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Pulmonary oedema may result from an excessive rate of infusion, especially in the elderly. In such instances, the rate of transfusion should be slowed or stopped, and the patient given diuretics.

Pulmonary oedema may also be non-cardiac in origin. In this case, it is associated with either:

  • antibodies in the donor blood against white cells in the recipient - the aggregates are trapped in the lung; or
  • antibodies in the recipients blood to transfused leucocytes

The pulmonary oedema can be life threatening. Treatment includes respiratory support, diuretics and high dose steroids.

Prevention is by using blood from which leucocytes have been filtered.

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