Final answer:
The administration of hemolyzed blood products can lead to severe immunological reactions, known as hemolytic transfusion reactions, which can result in symptoms ranging from fever and chills to acute kidney injury and shock. It is crucial to match blood types correctly before transfusion to prevent these complications.
Step-by-step explanation:
Complications of Hemolyzed Blood Transfusion
When hemolyzed blood products are administered, a variety of complications can arise. Most notably, if a patient with type B blood receives a transfusion of type A blood, their immune system reacts against the mismatched blood cells, leading to agglutination (clumping of red blood cells) and systemic hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells). This process triggers the activation of the complement system, which further enhances inflammation and cell lysis. The results are severe, including hemolytic transfusion reaction (HTR), which may occur within 1 to 24 hours of transfusion. Symptoms can include fever, chills, itching, hives, difficulty breathing, hemoglobinuria, and low blood pressure. In severe cases, HTR can progress to shock, multi-organ failure, and potentially be fatal.
The debris from damaged and destroyed red blood cells can clog blood vessels, notably in the lungs (alveoli) and kidneys (glomeruli), which can severely impair organ function. The high level of circulating hemoglobin can also lead to other complications such as renal failure. Therefore, careful matching of blood types prior to transfusion is critical to avoid these potentially life-threatening complications.