Allergy transmitted via donated blood
Wednesday April 8th, 2015
A new case study suggests that food allergies can be "caught" via blood transfusions.
Dr
Julia Upton and colleagues at The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto,
Canada, describe the circumstances under which an eight year old boy developed
anaphylactic allergies to previously tolerated foods after he received
blood products.
The patient had no previous history of allergies. He received radiation and cycles of autologous transplant included chemotherapy and blood, for the treatment of medulloblastoma. But a few weeks after his third cycle, he experienced anaphylactic shock ten minutes after eating salmon.
The doctors explain that blood donors who have food allergies can transfer immunoglobulin E, an antibody that reacts against allergens, from blood products such as platelets. But they add that this is a rare event.
Dr Upton says: "It is very unusual to identify someone who experienced passive transfer of allergy from blood products. Importantly, this condition has an excellent prognosis and typically resolves within a few months."
The case appeared yesterday (7 April) in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
They authors point out that it is important for parents and doctors to be aware of this event in case children have anaphylactic reactions after receiving blood products, particularly after eating peanuts, tree nuts and fish, foods that they could previously consume without a reaction.
If reactions do develop, such as facial swelling, throat discomfort or sudden fatigue, the patient needs emergency medical treatment. Careful reintroduction of the foods in question should be carried out under medical supervision.
Any such cases should also be reported to the relevant transfusion service, so the cause can be investigated and the country's blood supply made safe.
Ching, J. C. Y. et al. Peanut and fish allergy due to platelet transfusion in a child. Canadian Medical Association Journal 7 April 2015 doi:10.1503/cmaj.141407 [abstract]
Tags: Allergies & Asthma | Diet & Food | North America
Printer friendly page