Korean J Fam Med.  2016 Jan;37(1):71-74. 10.4082/kjfm.2016.37.1.71.

Transfusion Related Acute Lung Injury after Cesarean Section in a Patient with HELLP Syndrome

• Moon KM
• Han MS
• Rim CB
• Kim SR
• Shin SH
• Kang MS
• Lee JH
• Kim J
• Kim SI

• KMID: 2235180
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.2016.37.1.71

Abstract

Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is a serious adverse reaction of transfusion, and presents as hypoxemia and non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema within 6 hours of transfusion. A 14-year-old primigravida woman at 34 weeks of gestation presented with upper abdominal pain without dyspnea. Because she showed the syndrome of HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count), an emergency cesarean section delivery was performed, and blood was transfused. In the case of such patients, clinicians should closely observe the patient's condition at least during the 6 hours while the patient receives blood transfusion, and should suspect TRALI if the patient complains of respiratory symptoms such as dyspnea. Furthermore, echocardiography should be performed to distinguish between the different types of transfusion-related adverse reactions.

Keyword

Acute Lung Injury; HELLP Syndrome; Blood Transfusion; Cesarean Section

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Acute Lung Injury*
Adolescent
Anoxia
Blood Platelets
Blood Transfusion
Cesarean Section*
Dyspnea
Echocardiography
Emergencies
Female
HELLP Syndrome*
Humans
Liver
Pregnancy
Pulmonary Edema