Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome: An acute neurological complication of blood transfusion

Abstract

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is an acute neurological condition with characteristic clinical and radiological features. PRES occurring as a complication post blood transfusion is reported to be rare, irrespective of the presence of an underlying hematological disorder. Here, we describe a case of a 37-year old female known case of chronic anemia secondary to menorrhagia, who received three units of packed red blood cells transfusion and there was raise in hemoglobin from 6 gm/dl to 11 gm/dl. Four hours after the last transfusion, she developed occipital headache with neck pain and presented to us with two episodes of generalized tonic-clonic seizures after four days of symptoms onset. With this clinical picture in correlation with magnetic rsonance imaging findings, features were consistent with PRES. PRES is contemplated as one of the acute transfusion reactions but a rare entity, which is often preventable.