Allergic and febrile reactions without hemolysis are common complications of platelet transfusion. Pre-transfusion medications with anti-allergic medicine or glucocorticoid and plasma-removed platelets are used for prevention of these reactions, but plasma-removed platelets are not still prepared in most hospitals. We retrospectively analyzed 1,889 platelet transfusions in our hospital during 2012 in order to evaluate the effectiveness of premedication. We analyzed transfusion reactions within 6 hours of transfusion using clinical records. The premedication group experienced fewer transfusion reactions than the non-medication group (5.0% vs. 9.0%, p=0.002). Premedication reduced incidence of eruptions (6.0% vs. 2.0%, p<0.001) and itchy sensations (5.6% vs. 2.0%, p<0.001), but not that of other transfusion reactions (fever, hot flash, headache, hypotension, dyspnea, and tachycardia). Pre-transfusion medications seem to be effective in reducing incidence of some transfusion reactions, although prospective study is necessary to confirm this.

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