PREVALENCE OF ALLOIMMUNIZATION AGAINST RED BLOOD CELLS ANTIGENS IN SICKLE CELL DISEASE PATIENTS IN LATAKIA, SYRIA

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tishreen University, Latakia, Syria

Abstract

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most common inherited hemoglobin disorders in most parts of the world, including Syria. Red blood cells transfusion is a supportive procedure for patients with SCD. However, repeated blood transfusion is not risk-free; one major complication is RBCs alloimmunization; which is the focus of this study. Our objective was to estimate the prevalence of alloimmunization against RBCs antigens in multi-transfused SCD patients in the coastal city of Latakia, Syria, and to identify the involved alloantibodies. The factors that might affect RBC alloimmunization in these patients will also be studied. A multicenter study was carried on 100 SCD patients who previously received blood transfusions, and medical records of these patients were consulted. Antibody screening and identification were done using indirect antiglobulin test (IAT) at 37˚C in gel cards. Extended antigens phenotyping, autocontrols, and direct Coombs test (DAT) were also performed. In this first study in our region, we found that 10% of SCD patients developed clinically significant alloantibodies. None of the patients enrolled in our study had autoantibodies. Of 10 cases of alloimmunization, the alloantibodies we identified were: anti-c (3/10), anti-K alone (2/10), anti-E (1/10), anti-Fya (1/10), anti-D alone (1/10), anti-C with anti-D (1/10), anti-C with anti-K (1/10). Matching for Rh and Kell antigens will significantly decrease alloimmunization rate, since it may prevent the development around 90% of RBCs alloantibodies in a Syrian population of multi-transfused SCD patients.
 

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