Transfusion-associated circulatory overload
In transfusion medicine, transfusion-associated circulatory overload is a transfusion reaction resulting in signs or symptoms of excess fluid in the circulatory system within 12 hours after transfusion. The symptoms of TACO can include shortness of breath, low blood oxygen levels, leg swelling, high blood pressure, and a high heart rate.
It can occur due to a rapid transfusion of a large volume of blood but can also occur during a single red blood cell transfusion. It is often confused with transfusion-related acute lung injury, another transfusion reaction. The difference between TACO and TRALI is that TRALI only results in symptoms of respiratory distress while TACO can present with either signs of respiratory distress, peripheral leg swelling, or both. Risk factors for TACO are diseases that increase the amount of fluid a person has, including liver, heart, or kidney failure, as well as conditions that require many transfusions. High and low extremes of age are a risk factor as well.
The management of TACO includes immediate discontinuation of the transfusion, supplemental oxygen if needed, and medication to remove excess fluid.
Symptoms and signs
The primary symptoms of TACO are signs of respiratory distress along with signs of excess fluid within the circulatory system.On physical exam, patients may present with crackles when listening to the lungs, a murmur when listening to the heart, leg swelling, and distended veins in the neck.
Risk factors
Risk factors that can promote the development of TACO include conditions that predispose individuals to excess fluid in the circulatory system, conditions that place increased stress on the respiratory system, and conditions necessitating large volume transfusions. Age has also been found to be a risk factor where individuals less than 3 years old and over 60 years old are at increased risk.In addition, the risk of TACO increases as the number of units of blood products transfused increases. Table 1 shows the volume transfused with each blood product. Multiple blood products and blood products with larger volumes increase the risk for TACO.
| Blood Product | Volume |
| Whole blood | 520 mL |
| Red Blood Cells | 340 mL |
| Concentrated platelets | 50 mL |
| Platelets | 300 mL |
| Cryoprecipitate | 15 mL |
| Fresh frozen plasma | 225 mL |
Diagnosis
The National Healthcare Safety Safety Network division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released an updated criteria table in 2021:Patients diagnosed with TACO should have at least 1 of the following two characteristics within 12 hours after the transfusion was ended:
- Acute or worsening respiratory distress in the absence of other causes
- Evidence of acute or worsening pulmonary edema
- Elevations in brain-natriuretic peptide or N-terminal -pro BNP.
- Evidence of cardiovascular system changes
- Evidence of fluid overload.
Classification
- Non-severe - where no permanent damage would arise if treatment was not given. However, treatment is still needed.
- Severe - where the patient either requires hospitalization as a result or, if already hospitalized, has an extended length of stay as a result. Treatment is needed to avoid permanent damage.
- Life-threatening - where intensive care such as vasopressor agents and mechanical ventilation is required in order to prevent death.
- Death
Differential diagnosis
Assessing fluid status is key in differentiating between the two. In TACO, the patient will always have a positive fluid balance and will often present with hypertension, jugular venous distension, elevated BNP, peripheral edema, and will respond well to diuretics. In contrast, TRALI is not associated with fluid overload and the patient may have a positive, even, or net fluid balance. Patients with TRALI often present with hypotension, no signs of right-heart fluid overload, normal BNP, and lack of clinical improvement in response to diuretics.
Other causes of edema that can promote a volume-overloaded state and predispose individuals to TACO include: heart failure, renal insufficiency, nephrotic syndrome, cirrhosis, and chronic venous insufficiency.
Pathogenesis
The development of TACO is thought to be due to a 2-hit mechanism. The first hit is the state of the patient and the second hit is the blood transfusion itself. A patient may be receiving blood due to any number of causes and may have heart or kidney dysfunction which can lead to excess fluid. Upon transfusion of the blood product, the patient is overwhelmed by the excess fluid and develops symptoms related to volume overload.The clinical symptoms from TACO are due to an excess of fluid within the circulatory system. As a result, there is increased pressure within the circulatory system, resulting in fluid moving into the surrounding tissues. In the lungs, the extra fluid accumulates into the air sacs within the lung, causing difficulties in oxygen getting into the blood. This results in low blood oxygen levels and shortness of breath. In the arms and legs, the fluid accumulates in the tissues, causing swelling. This is most prominent in the legs due to the effects of gravity. Conditions that predispose to increased hydrostatic pressure or decreased oncotic pressure places individuals at increased risk for TACO.