Transfusion reaction: A blind spot in autopsy

Although blood transfusion is generally safe, there are adverse events with varying severity even that can lead to death including Acute Haemolytic Transfusion Reaction (AHTR), anaphylaxis, bacterial sepsis, Transfusion Related Acute Lung Injury (TRALI) and Transfusion Associated Circulatory Overload (TACO). Transfusion Associated Graft vs Host Disease (TAGVHD) is a delayed type of reaction that can lead to death. Ascertaining the cause of death is complicated in such situations and multidisciplinary investigations are needed.
Serological investigations should be performed in the transfusion laboratory to detect haemolysis, immunological incompatibility, and bacterial contamination. In the postmortem examination AHTR can be diagnosed with serological investigations and presence of incompatible red cells can be identified in postmortem tissue samples by immune-histochemical methods. Detection of HLA antibodies in the respiratory tract tissues and intended donor investigations can confirm the diagnosis of TRALI. In a case of suspected bacterial contamination isolation of same organism in the postmortem blood and in the intended pack can conclude the diagnosis. In anaphylaxis, inflammation of the respiratory tract with eosinophilia can be seen and measuring the serum tryptase level is useful. In TAGVHD host tissue necrosis and lymphocyte infiltration are +seen and that can be confirmed by showing the DNA chimerism by PCR analysis.
Further studies are recommended to establish protocols and guidelines for postmortem examination following a transfusion reaction.