A prospective multicenter observational study assessing incidence and risk factors for acute blood transfusion reactions in dogs

Background Reported incidence of blood transfusion reactions (TR) varies greatly. Objective To prospectively evaluate the incidence of acute TRs in dogs receiving allogenic blood products, using consensus definitions, and to assess factors associated with TRs. Animals Dogs (n = 858) administered allogenic blood products (n = 1542) between March and November 2022. Methods Prospective, multicenter surveillance study occurring in referral hospitals in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia recording TRs in dogs administered blood products as defined by the consensus guidelines published by The Association of Veterinary Hematology and Transfusion Medicine in 2021. Results The incidence of acute TR was 8.9% (95% CI 7.0‐11.1) for packed red blood cells (pRBCs) and 4.5% (95% CI 2.9‐6.6) for plasma products. The most frequently reported TRs were febrile nonhemolytic TRs (FNHTR; 4%, 95% CI 2.8‐5.5) when administering pRBCs and allergic TRs (3.2%, 95% CI 1.80‐5.10) when administering plasma products. A higher dose of pRBC (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.04 [95% CI 1.00‐1.08]) was associated with a higher odds of TR. Administration of pRBCs stored for longer than 28 days was associated with higher odds of FNHTR (aOR 4.10 [95% CI 1.58‐10.65]) and acute hemolytic TR (AHTR; OR 15.2 [95% CI 3.35‐68.70]) when compared with pRBCs stored for 14 days or fewer. Leukoreduction of pRBC was not associated with lower odds of developing a TR (OR 1.47 [95% CI 0.89‐2.42]). Conclusions and Clinical Importance Clinicians should be mindful of the age and dose of pRBC prescribed to dogs.