ISSN 2997-1036
International Journal of Hematology | Vol. 2, No. 12, December 2011 | pp. 89–96
DOI: 10.46882/2011/IJH/000024
Original Article
Title: Prevalence and risk factors of alloimmunization to red blood cell antigens in multi-transfused sickle cell anemia patients
Names of Authors: S. T. Adeyemi¹, U. V. Nwachukwu², W. X. Salami³
Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; ²Department of Pathology, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria; ³Department of Paediatrics, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
Abstract: Red blood cell alloimmunization complicates long-term transfusion therapy in sickle cell anemia, causing delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions and limiting cross-match availability. This cross-sectional study determined the prevalence and specificity of red blood cell alloantibodies among 112 multi-transfused patients with sickle cell anemia who had received at least 5 lifetime packed red blood cell transfusions. Antibody screening and identification were conducted using a standardized 3-cell and 11-cell panel gel card system. Alloantibodies were detected in 14.3% (16 of 112) of the patients. The antigen specificities identified were directed against the Kell system (anti-K, 37.5%), the Rh system (anti-E, 25.0%; anti-C, 18.7%), and the Kidd system (anti-Jka, 12.5%). The risk of alloimmunization correlated with the total number of transfused units (P < 0.05) and an older age at the first transfusion episode. These findings indicate a significant rate of red blood cell alloimmunization, supporting the implementation of extended phenotype matching for Rh and Kell antigens to prevent immune hemolysis in chronically transfused sickle cell cohorts.
Keywords: Sickle cell anemia, alloimmunization, red blood cell antigens, blood transfusion, alloantibodies
Manuscript Timeline: Received: September 15, 2011; Revised: October 24, 2011; Accepted: November 12, 2011; Published: December 15, 2011