Abstract

• Clinical survey on 508 blood recipients were undertaken to find out the incidence of urticaria and the effects of pretreatment with antihistamine on urticaria. The following were obtained: 1) Among 508 recipients, the incidence of urticaria was 30 (5.9%). 2) The urticaria was 15 (50%) severe in degree. 3) The incidence of the urticaria was more frequent in general anesthesia than spinal anesthesia. 4) There was no significant relationship between transfusions and the apperance of urticaria. 5) The rate of appearance of urticaria was higher in female than male. 6) In various age groups the majority of urticara were in the third decade. 7) The average number of eosinophiles was within normal limits in all recipients. 8) The average duration of uricaria was 2 hours and 45 minutes. The result of present study indicates the possibility that pretreatment with anihistamine can prevent the urticaria after transfusion during anesthesia and involving more number of recipients further study is necessary to verify the above results.