Haemorrhagic Diathesis Following Transfusion of Incompatible Blood

Several reports show the occurrence of a haemorrhagic diathesis which accompanies haemolytic transfusion reactions (Friesen et al 1952, Binder et al 1959, Seldon 1949, Sack & Nefa 1970). Various haemostatic disturbances have been incriminated as causes of that diathesis, such as thrombocytopenia (Hardaway et al 1954), hypofibrinogenaemia (Conley 1952) and circulating anticoagulants (Muirhead 1951). Lately, disseminated intravascular clotting (DIC) has been implicated as the main cause of bleeding in such patients (McKay 1965, Rock et al 1969, Sack & Nefa 1970). We had the opportunity to study a patient with severe haemolytic transfusion reaction due to major blood group incompatible transfusion, causing life‐threatening bleeding. The infrequency of such events and the importance of prompt diagnosis and treatment justifies the publication of this report.