Hemolysis — the splitting of these cells — spills their contents into the blood vessels. Hemoglobin spills into the plasma of the blood and is excreted in the urine, turning the urine a dark brown color. Red blood cells also contain bilirubin, a component in bile.
This usually gets spilled in the liver, which breaks down red blood cells, and excreted. Bilirubin is yellow-brown, and gives your poop its brown color. When the red blood cells is split while still in the bloodstream, the bilirubin turns a person's whole body yellow. The yellowing skin and brown urine can be managed, but they're signs of a very dangerous situation.
The red blood cell debris careening through the blood vessels can set off any number of chain reactions. The debris can activate the complement system, a part of the immune system consisting of cell signaling proteins that activate more cell signaling proteins. The end result of this mass of signals is activation of the membrane attack complex, which rips cells apart. Meanwhile, spilled platelets from the blood cells can trigger an "uncontrollable clotting cascade," causing blood to clot in the veins.
This cascade, called an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction, is what can kill people. Hospitals are careful and mismatches are rare, but they do still happen. The process of blood donation and the handling of donated blood in the United States is regulated by the U. The FDA enforces five layers of overlapping safeguards to protect the blood supply against disease. If you are going to have surgery and expect to need a blood transfusion, you may want to consider donating or banking your own blood before the surgery autologous donation.
Your blood is typed, or classified, according to the presence or absence of certain markers antigens found on red blood cells and in the plasma that allow your body to recognize blood as its own. If another blood type is introduced, your immune system recognizes it as foreign and attacks it, resulting in a transfusion reaction.
People with type A have antibodies in the blood against type B. People with type B have antibodies in the blood against type A. People with AB have no anti-A or anti-B antibodies. People with type O have both anti-A and anti-B antibodies.
People with type AB blood are called universal recipients, because they can receive any of the ABO types. People with type O blood are called universal donors, because their blood can be given to people with any of the ABO types.
Mismatches with the ABO and Rh blood types are responsible for the most serious, sometimes life-threatening, transfusion reactions. But these types of reactions are rare. The Rh system classifies blood as Rh-positive or Rh-negative, based on the presence or absence of Rh antibodies in the blood. People with Rh-positive blood can receive Rh-negative blood, but people with Rh-negative blood will have a transfusion reaction if they receive Rh-positive blood.
Transfusion reactions caused by mismatched Rh blood types can be serious. There are over other blood subtypes.
Most have little or no effect on blood transfusions, but a few of them may be the main causes of mild transfusion reactions. Mild transfusion reactions are frightening, but they are rarely life-threatening when treated quickly. The risks of blood transfusions include transfusion reactions immune-related reactions , nonimmune reactions, and infections.
Immune-related reactions occur when your immune system attacks components of the blood being transfused or when the blood causes an allergic reaction.
This is called a transfusion reaction. Even receiving the correct blood type sometimes results in a transfusion reaction. These reactions may be mild or severe. Most mild reactions are not life-threatening when treated quickly. Even mild reactions, though, can be frightening. Mild allergic reactions may involve itching, hives, wheezing, and fever. Severe reactions may cause anaphylactic shock.
Doctors will stop a blood transfusion if they think you are having a reaction. A reaction may turn out to be mild. But at the beginning, it is hard for doctors to know whether it will be severe.
A person can develop iron overload after having many repeated blood transfusions. This condition, sometimes called acquired hemochromatosis , is often treated with medicine.
Too much iron can have an effect on many organs in the body. The transmission of viral infections, such as hepatitis B or C or HIV , through blood transfusions has become very rare because of the safeguards enforced by the U. The risk of infection from a blood transfusion is higher in less developed countries, where such testing may not happen and paid donors are used. It is possible for blood to be contaminated with bacteria or parasites. Bacterial contamination can happen during or after donation.
Donated blood might have a parasitic infection. Transfusion with blood that has bacteria or parasites can result in a systemic infection. But this risk is small. The risk of a bacterial infection in donated blood is small because of the precautions taken in drawing and handling blood.
There is a greater risk of bacterial infection from transfusions with platelets. Unlike most other blood components, platelets are stored at room temperature. If any bacteria are present, they will grow and cause an infection when the platelets are used for transfusion.
Before you receive a blood transfusion, your blood is tested to determine your blood type. Blood or blood components that are compatible with your blood type are ordered by the doctor.
This blood may be retested in the hospital laboratory to confirm its type. A sample of your blood is then mixed with a sample of the blood you will receive to check that no problems result, such as red blood cell destruction hemolysis or clotting. This process of checking blood types and mixing samples of the two blood sources is called typing and crossmatching.
Before actually giving you the transfusion, a doctor or nurse will examine the label on the package of blood and compare it to your blood type as listed on your medical record. Only when all agree that this is the correct blood and that you are the correct recipient will the transfusion begin.
Giving you the wrong blood type can result in a mild to serious transfusion reaction. If you have banked your own blood in preparation for surgery autologous donation , typing and crossmatching is not needed. But the doctors and nurses still examine the label to confirm that it is the blood you donated and that you are the right recipient. For more information on this option, see:. Sometimes a doctor will recommend that you take acetaminophen such as Tylenol , antihistamines such as Benadryl , or other medicines to help prevent mild reactions, like a fever or hives, from a blood transfusion.
Your doctor will treat a more severe reaction if one occurs. To receive the transfusion, you will have an intravenous IV catheter inserted into a vein. A tube connects the catheter to the bag containing the transfusion, which is placed higher than your body.
The transfusion then flows slowly into your vein. A doctor or nurse will check you several times during the transfusion to watch for a transfusion reaction or other problem.
Experts are trying to create artificial blood or blood replacements. Blood replacements being studied include oxygen-carrying chemicals such as perfluorocarbon emulsions and cell-free hemoglobin —the portion of the red blood cell that carries oxygen. There are several advantages to blood replacements. The blood replacement products being tested still have problems. For example, blood replacement products can interfere with blood tests, are more quickly removed from the body, and are less efficient oxygen carriers.
Several of these products are being developed. But their use, after they are approved, will probably be limited to emergencies involving severe blood loss caused by serious accidents. Current as of: September 23, Author: Healthwise Staff. Medical Review: E.
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information.
As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs. What happens if a patient receives the wrong blood type? School of Medicine, Family Medicine. If a patient receives a blood type that is incompatible, antibodies that the patient already has in his or her blood will attack the donor red blood cells and destroy them.
This is called an acute hemolytic reaction. A delayed hemolytic reaction can also occur, which is generally less severe or even asymptomatic, but there will still be destruction of blood cells. Discovery Health. Continue Learning about Blood Basics What are the symptoms of decreased blood flow in the leg? Brigham and Women's Hospital. Some symptoms that may occur when blood flow decreases to the legs include, but are not limited
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