[Complications in the use of blood transfusions--alloimmunization in polytransfused patients].
BACKGROUND
The objective of this paper was to examine the frequency of red blood cell (RBC) alloantibodies in polytransfused hematologic patients.


METHODS
Blood samples of 2669 polytransfused hematologic patients were examined on clinical significant alloantibodies using antibody screening and identification according to Standards of AABB Technical Manual (1). Available medical charts were reviewed for sex, age and medical history and total number of given transfusions.


RESULTS
During a three year period blood samples of 2669 polytransfused hematologic patients were examined for RBC alloantibodies. Alloantibodies were detected in 48 cases with the incidence of 1.79%. 36 patients (1.35%) developed single antibody while in 12 patients (0.45%) multiple antibodies were detected. Antibodies were registered more frequently in females than in males (37:17). In patients with single antibody next specificity was detected: anti-D (38.89%), anti-K (22.22%), antibodies to antigens MNSs system (22.22%), while anti-Le, anti-Fy and anti-P specificity was detected in 13.89%. Patients with multiple antibodies had specificity to Rhesus, Kell, Duffy, MNSs, Lewis and P blood group systems. All patients received more than 10 RBC transfusions.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of alloimmunization was 1.79%. Sensibilization occurred more frequently in females than in males. Usually, the discovered alloantibodies were clinically significant and made problems in pretransfusion testings and required special efforts in blood selection for transfusion. For patients with the risk of frequent transfusions we suggest to include blood transfusion charts with complete phenotyping against antigens in Rhesus, Kell, Kidd and MNSs blood group systems and the data of all received transfusions.
Rakić
S
S
Institut za interne bolesti, Zavod za transfuziju krvi, Novi Sad.
Belić
B
B
Erceg
S
S
Jovanović
R
R
Kulić
Z
Z
Stefanović
N
N
Belić
A
A
Uzurov
V
V
Spasojević
J
J
D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
D007518:Isoantibodies