Fever (without hemolysis) is most common reaction to transfused platelets (occur in 5-30% of transfusions)
Fever is more common with platelet transfusion than PRBC transfusion
Febrile reactions are more common with older platelets (possibly due to production of bioactive substance over time) and those with higher numbers of leukocytes
Physiology
Fever due to reaction to bioactive substance (possibly an Interleukin) in transfused plasma in platelets (NEJM: 1994: 331: 625-628) and possibly some anti-leukocyte antibodies present in recipient (which act against residual leukocytes in platelets)
