Some effects of autologous and homologous blood or plasma overtransfusions in the dog

¹ Departments of Physiology, Baylor University College of Medicine and The University of Texas Dental Branch, Houston, Texas

Plasma volume, protein concentration, mean arterial pressure, urticaria, and survival rates were observed in morphine-pentobarbitalized dogs overtransfused with either dextran, homologous blood, reconstituted homologous blood, autologous frozen stored, homologous frozen stored, or fresh plasma. The principal reaction and only difference between responses with autologous plasma and homologous blood and plasma was the development of urticaria with homologous blood (10%), homologous plasma (70–90%), and reconstituted homologous blood (100%). Significant amounts of fluid and protein were lost with all overtransfusions; this loss was not correlated with the urticaria. Of five dogs developing urticaria, three had an increased plasma histamine level. Diphenhydramine hydrochloride reduced the incidence of urticaria from 100 to 20%. Blood group incompatibility was not involved. There was a direct relationship between handling of blood and urticaria, and it is postulated that, during handling, a substance is activated which causes the release of endogenous histamine and production of urticaria.

Key Words: whole blood overtransfusion • dextran overtransfusion • plasma histamine • urticaria • loss of plasma • loss of plasma protein • homologous blood syndrome • antihistaminic

Submitted on December 28, 1964