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When a patient experiences frequent urticarial transfusion reactions, antihistamines are often used as a preventive measure. Urticaria, or hives, is a skin reaction typically caused by the release of histamines, which are substances produced by the immune system in response to allergens. By administering antihistamines prior to transfusion, the likelihood of histamine-mediated reactions can be reduced, helping to mitigate symptoms such as and redness, itching, and swelling that accompany urticaria.

Antihistamines work by blocking the action of histamines at their receptors, thus decreasing the severity and occurrence of allergic reactions, including those that may happen during blood transfusions. This makes them a suitable choice for patients with a history of such reactions.

Other options, while they serve important roles in managing various conditions, do not specifically address the histamine release and the allergic nature of urticarial reactions as effectively as antihistamines do. Analgesics address pain but do not prevent allergic reactions. Beta-blockers can potentially worsen allergic responses and are generally not used to prevent transfusion reactions. Corticosteroids may be useful in certain allergic reactions but are typically reserved for more severe responses and not as a first-line treatment for urticaria