Application of RHD and RHCE genotyping for correct blood group determination in chronically transfused patients.
BACKGROUND
In chronically transfused patients, conventional blood group typing may be impossible because of mixed-field agglutination.


METHODS
In 27 patients with congenital anemia and lifelong transfusion history, genotyping for D, RHD, and RHCE was performed with polymerase chain reactions. These results were compared with the blood group typing results documented in the medical record.


RESULTS
Two of 27 cases had been typed D-negative by serologic tests and D-positive by genotyping. In 20 patients, the CDE formula had been determined serologically according to the medical record; 4 of these patients were Cc by serologic tests and C/C by genotyping. One patient typed ee by serologic tests, and genotyping revealed heterozygosity (E/e).


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with a lifelong transfusion history, serologic blood group determination may be impossible, and pretransfusion test results are not always available or reliable. In whites, Rh-matched transfusions are possible with genotyping. The genetic background of the RH genes has to be elucidated in other ethnic groups, such as in black patients with sickle cell disease, before genotyping can be applied without restriction.
Legler
T J
TJ
Department of Transfusion Medicine, University of Göttingen, Germany. tlegler@med.uni-goettingen.de
Eber
S W
SW
Lakomek
M
M
Lynen
R
R
Maas
J H
JH
Pekrun
A
A
Repas-Humpe
M
M
Schröter
W
W
Köhler
M
M
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001788:Blood Grouping and Crossmatching / Q000379:methods*; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005091:Exons; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007438:Introns; D008297:Male; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System / Q000235:genetics*
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System