Complications of Transfusion By Ravindra Sarode, MD, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Reviewed / Revised Feb 2022 | Modified Sep 2022 View Patient Education The most common complications of transfusion are Febrile nonhemolytic reactions Chill-rigor reactions The most serious complications, which have very high mortality rates, are Acute hemolytic reaction (AHTR) due to ABO incompatibility Graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) Transfusion-associated circulatory overload (TACO) Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) Other complications include Allergic reactions Altered oxygen affinity Delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction Infections Post-transfusion purpura Early recognition of symptoms suggestive of a transfusion reaction and prompt reporting to the blood bank are essential.