An allergic transfusion reaction is a potentially life-threatening side effect of blood transfusion. A recent study from Japan has uncovered a potential link between allergic transfusion reactions and food allergens present in the blood of donors.
It has previously been ascertained that children with food allergies are more prone to allergic transfusion reactions, however the underlying reasons and mechanisms of the transfusion reactions have remained unclear.
The Japanese study was conducted using blood samples from children with diagnosed allergy to eggs, wheat, or milk. Results suggest that children with food allergies are more prone to allergic transfusion reactions when blood donors have consumed allergenic foods before donation.
This discovery could have significant impacts on the safety of blood transfusions and may require dietary screening or guidelines for blood donors to reduce the risk of allergic reactions in children with food allergies who require blood transfusions.
Reference: Yanagisawa, et al., 2024 Activation of basophils in children with food allergies by blood from donors ingesting the corresponding food. Allergy, 2024; DOI: 10.1111/all.16013
