Transfusion-related acute lung injury: Definition and review

BACKGROUND: Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is now the leading cause of transfusion-associated mortality, even though it is probably still underdiagnosed and underreported. NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, AND BLOOD INSTITUTE ACTION: The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute convened a working group to identify areas of research needed in TRALI. The working group identified the immediate need for a common definition and thus developed the clinical definition in this report. MAJOR CONCEPTS IN THE DEFINITION: The major concept is that TRALI is defined as new acute lung injury occurring during or within 6 hrs after a transfusion, with a clear temporal relationship to the transfusion. Also, another…