Question

A 28-year-old woman receiving her first blood transfusion begins to experience flushing, tightness in her chest, and difficulty breathing within minutes of the start of the infusion. Her blood pressure drops rapidly, and the transfusion is immediately discontinued. Epinephrine is administered with good effect. Specimens sent to the lab show evidence of intravascular hemolysis.

What is the name of the rxn?

Answer 1

The reaction is a hemolytic transfusion reaction (HTR), a severe type of hypersensitivity reaction triggered by blood type incompatibility and treated with epinephrine.

Step-by-step explanation:

The reaction experienced by the 28-year-old woman after her blood transfusion is known as a hemolytic transfusion reaction (HTR), which is a type of hypersensitivity reaction. This severe reaction occurs when the transfused blood is not compatible with the recipient's blood type. For instance, receiving type A blood when the individual has type B blood can cause this reaction. The symptoms such as flushing, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, and a rapid drop in blood pressure are indicative of an anaphylactic reaction, which can be life-threatening. The administration of epinephrine effectively treats anaphylaxic symptoms, as it constricts blood vessels to increase blood pressure, relaxes smooth muscles in the lungs to improve breathing, moderates heart rates, and reduces swelling.