Final answer:
Incompatible blood type transfusions lead to a hemolytic reaction where recipient's antibodies attack the transfused RBCs, causing agglutination and potentially severe health issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
Transfusion of a blood type incompatible with that of the recipient causes a chain reaction called hemolysis, in which the recipient’s antibodies link and the clump then denatures the donated red blood cells (RBCs). If, for example, a person with type B blood receives a transfusion of type A blood, their anti-A antibodies will bind to the transfused RBCs resulting in agglutination. Subsequently, the activation of the classical complement cascade will lead to a strong inflammatory response and the complement membrane attack complex (MAC) will mediate significant destruction of the transfused RBCs. The resulting debris from damaged and destroyed RBCs can block blood vessels, notably in the lungs and kidneys, leading to severe health consequences such as shock or multi-organ failure, potentially resulting in the death of the patient.
When a blood type incompatible with that of the recipient is transfused, a chain reaction called hemolytic transfusion reaction occurs. In this process, the recipient's anti-A or anti-B antibodies bind to and clump the transfused red blood cells (RBCs). This leads to activation of the classical complement cascade, resulting in a strong inflammatory response and destruction of the transfused RBCs.