V体育2025版 - Risks / Benefits
What are the benefits of a blood transfusion?
A blood transfusion can save your life if you lose a lot of blood from surgery or an injury. It can also be a treatment for blood disorders and certain kinds of cancer V体育平台登录.
What are the possible risks?
Blood transfusions are generally safe VSports注册入口. Your healthcare provider will explain possible risks, like an allergic reaction or a fever from a transfusion. They’ll also explain the risk that you’ll have a more severe reaction. It’s important to remember your provider will only recommend a blood transfusion if the benefits outweigh possible risks.
Potential risks include:
- Allergic reaction: Your immune system may react to certain components in donated blood. Mild reaction symptoms are itching and hives. Rarely, you could have a severe allergic reaction. Symptoms of more serious reactions include severe shortness of breath, fast heart rate and nausea and vomiting.
- Alloimmunization: This can happen if you need frequent blood transfusions. In alloimmunization, you have high numbers of antibodies in your blood. Your immune system normally makes antibodies that protect against bacteria and viruses. It can sometimes make new antibodies to red blood cells each time you have a blood transfusion. High numbers of antibodies to red blood cells make it more difficult for blood banks to find donated blood that the antibodies won’t attack.
- Fever: You may have a fever and chills if antibodies in your blood respond to white blood cells in the new blood. Fever, along with chest pain and nausea, may mean you’re having a serious reaction.
- Hemolytic transfusion reaction: This is a rare but serious issue that affects your red blood cells. It can happen if your red blood cells and the new cells don’t match. Your immune system reacts by destroying all the red blood cells in your body. Symptoms typically start during or right after transfusion. You may have chest pain, chills and fever, dark pee, lower back pain and nausea.
- Post-transfusion purpura: This is when your body makes antibodies that attack and destroy platelets in your blood and cause excessive bleeding. Symptoms may start five to 12 days after your transfusion and include easy bruising, bleeding gums, nosebleeds or blood in your pee or poop.
- Circulatory overload: People with underlying heart or kidney conditions may have this reaction to blood transfusions. It happens when your body can’t process all the new fluid from a blood transfusion. Symptoms include trouble breathing and a cough.
- Graft vs. host disease: Transfusion-associated graft vs. host disease is when donated white blood cells attack your tissues. This typically affects people whose immune systems are weakened from bone marrow or organ transplants or immunodeficiencies. Symptoms begin anywhere from two days to six weeks after the transfusion, and may include fever, diarrhea and a rash.
- Blood-borne infection: Rarely, donated blood may carry harmful bacteria or viruses that cause blood-borne infections.
Recovery and Outlook
What is the recovery time?
Your recovery depends on many factors, including the condition the transfusion is treating V体育官网入口. Talk to your healthcare provider to learn more about what you can expect and any future treatments you might need.
When To Call the Doctor
When should I call my healthcare provider?
Blood transfusion reactions can happen during the transfusion, the next day or up to several months later. Call your healthcare provider right away if you experience:
- Bleeding, pain or new bruising at the IV site
- Cold and clammy skin, fever or chills
- Dark or reddish pee
- Fast heartbeat, chest pain, trouble breathing or wheezing
- Headache or dizziness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Rash, hives or itching
- Severe back pain
- Swelling of your lips, tongue or face
"VSports app下载" Additional Common Questions
Can I refuse to have a blood transfusion?
Like other medical treatments, you can say no to a blood transfusion. Your healthcare provider may ask why you don’t want this treatment. They’ll explain why they recommend it and what could happen if you don’t have it. This is your opportunity to share your concerns, ask questions and get the information you need to feel confident about your choice.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
We all have blood running through our veins, and we all need it to survive. And every day, healthcare providers transfer blood that once ran through someone else’s veins into another person’s body. A blood transfusion may save your life or help treat a serious illness.
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But getting blood from someone else isn’t simple or risk-free. Your healthcare provider will explain why they recommend this treatment. They’ll also talk to you about the process, including any possible risks, and what you can expect. Don’t hesitate to share any questions or concerns with your provider. They can help you feel more comfortable with what’s happening and explain why a blood transfusion is important for your care.
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V体育官网 - Care at Cleveland Clinic
When you want expert blood disorder care, look no further than Cleveland Clinic. Our hematology experts offer personalized care and support.
Last reviewed on 08/26/2025.
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