Meperidine to control shivering associated with platelet transfusion reaction.

Shivering may be part of a febrile non-haemolytic reaction to blood product transfusion. Shivering can increase oxygen consumption up to 500 per cent which may be detrimental to patients with decreased myocardial reserve. A case is presented of a reaction to platelet transfusion characterized by shivering, tachycardia and hypertension in a patient with a recent myocardial infarction in whom the metabolic and haemodynamic effects were considered to be potentially disastrous. Intravenous injection of meperidine was rapidly effective in treating these changes.