Anaemia is a condition that is characterized by insufficient healthy red blood cells to transport oxygen to all tissues of the body. There are various types of anaemia that vary depending on the cause. General symptoms of anaemia include dizziness, fatigue, pale skin, headaches, shortness of breath, insomnia and unusual rapid heartbeat. Anaemia can range from mild to severe and can be other long-term or temporary. There are different treatments that can be administered for the treatment of anaemia. The treatments range from undergoing medical procedures, while others only require taking supplements and other types by eating a healthy diet.
Identify the type of anaemia he has.
In this case, the patient is suffering from aplastic anaemia. This condition is common in the aged, and it occurs when one’s body ceases to produce sufficient new blood cells. This type of anaemia makes the patient feel fatigued, causes uncontrolled bleeding, and makes them susceptible to infections. Some of the symptoms evident in this patient that are associated with aplastic anaemia include shortness of breath, fatigue, sleeping all the time, feeling weak, cool skin, pale skin and a low haemoglobin concentration (Young & Maciejewski, 2018). Treatment for aplastic anaemia includes administering medication, blood transfusion or bone marrow transplant. In this case, the patient has been advised to have a blood transfusion, which is common for patients ailing from aplastic anaemia.
Describe which blood types he can receive safely and why these are compatible with his Type B+.
The patient in the case has blood type B positive. Therefore, he can safely receive blood from donors with blood types B+, B-, O+ and O-. The patient can receive blood type O because it has neither A nor B antigens but has both A and B antibodies. Therefore, the O type is compatible with B-positive because it does not have any antigens that can antagonize the immune system. This is the reason those with blood type O- are referred to as universal donors; therefore, they lack proteins, and their red cells can express neither A nor B sugars nor the RhD antigens; hence, they cannot cause a reaction and consequently clump to the recipient. The patient can receive from the B blood type because no new antigens are introduced to the plasma. Hence, no reaction will occur.
Describe the blood types he cannot receive and why they are incompatible with Type B+.
However, there are some other blood types that the patient, in this case, cannot receive blood from being B+. They include blood type A-, A+, AB-, and AB+ (Kabat, 2013). A person with blood group B has anti-A antibodies and B antigens in the blood. Blood type A should not be transfused to blood type B because the anti-A antibodies in the B group will attack the group A cells. The blood type A or AB cells have naturally occurring antibodies that are proteins that form part of the immune response and are likely to result in a transfusion reaction that is serious and can even be fatal, resulting in death. Similarly, it is not safe for his patient with blood type B+ to receive blood from A or AB red cells since it may result in the clumping of blood. If incompatible groups of blood cells are introduced during a transfusion, the donor cells will attack the immune system of the recipient, hence resulting in various conditions, including kidney failure, shock, and even death (Berséus et al., 2013).
Explain the transfusion reactions he may experience if he receives incompatible blood products.
Blood transfusions are lifesaving, but in some instances, they may be lethal if the blood of the donor does not accurately match the blood type of the recipient. When the blood type becomes incompatible with the recipient, it can result in a transfusion reaction. Even though these reactions are rare, they can be dangerous to your lungs and kidneys. Transfusion reaction occurs when the antibodies in the blood of the recipient launch an attack on those in the donor blood red cells when the two are incompatible. When the recipient’s immune system attacks those of a donor, the reaction is termed hemolytic.
Also, if the patient, in this case, receives blood from an incompatible donor group, an allergic reaction to the blood transfusion may occur. This reaction occurs when an existing IgE antibody connects to its respective antigen, hence triggering the release of histamine. Some of the symptoms associated with this reaction include itchiness and hiving. The allergic reaction is often treated by administering antihistamines to the patient. Acute Hemolytic Transfusion Reaction (AHTR) commonly occurs when a recipient receives blood from blood groups that are not compatible with his or her blood group (Green, 2016). For instance, if the patient, in this case, has blood group B+ and receives blood from either A or AB, this reaction is likely to occur. This reaction often occurs within 24 hours of the blood transfusion. The patient is likely to report a burning sensation after the infusion alongside back pains, fever, chills and flanks.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Anemia is associated with a reduced number of red blood cells, resulting in low haemoglobin. It is prevalent in people of all ages. There are different types of anaemia depending on the cause; hence, there are different treatments for varying types of anaemia. Blood transfusion is crucial, and it saves lives. Therefore, it is the role of clinicians to avoid the risks associated with blood transfusion among incompatible blood groups. To lower the risks of transfusion reactions, blood banks are advised to screen and test blood accurately. Also, before the transfusion, a sample of the donor’s blood should be mixed with that of the recipient to test for compatibility. Before blood is infused into the recipient, the blood label and the identity of the patient should be carefully checked to ensure the nurse or doctor gives the proper blood products to the right blood recipient.
References
Berséus, O., Boman, K., Nessen, S. C., & Westerberg, L. A. (2013). Risks of hemolysis due to anti‐A and anti‐B caused by the transfusion of blood or blood components containing ABO‐incompatible plasma. Transfusion, 53(S1).
Green, D. (2016). Management of Transfusion Reactions. NEJM Journal Watch. Oncology and Hematology.
Kabat, E. A. (2013). Blood group substances: their chemistry and immunochemistry. Elsevier.
Young, N. S., & Maciejewski, J. P. (2018). Aplastic anaemia. In Hematology (Seventh Edition) (pp. 394-414).
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