Blood Transfusion Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Blood Transfusion, including details on blood donation, blood types, leukemia.

RBC alloimmunization in blood transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia patients in southern Iran.

Karimi M, Nikrooz P, Kashef S, Jamalian N, Davatolhagh Z

Thrombosis and Hemostasis Unit, Hematology Research Center, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. karimim@sums.ac.ir

beta-thalassemia is considered a severe, progressive anemia, which needs regular transfusions for life expectancy. One of the most important complications of regular blood transfusions may be alloimmunization, which increases the need for transfusion. This study was performed to investigate the production of red cell alloantibodies in beta-thalassemia patients in Shiraz, southern Iran. Blood sampling was performed among 711 beta-thalassemia patients in Dastgheib hospital in 2002-2004. Direct and indirect coombs tests were performed to check the auto and alloantibodies and a panel test was conducted to detect the type of alloantibodies. Auto and alloantibodies were observed among 1.7% and 5.3% of patients, respectively. The most common alloantibodies were Anti-kell (50%) > Anti-Rh (D) (15.8%) > Anti-Rh (E) (10.5%). All the patients who had developed alloantibody were in the age group of 6 years or more. So for decreasing the rate of alloantibody synthesis, we should crossmatched the packed cells for minor blood groups especially for kell and Rh(E) in addition to major blood groups from the start of transfusion.

Published 10 September 2007 in Int J Lab Hematol, 29(5): 321-6.
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