Frequency of red blood cell alloantibody in Kuwaiti population.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to analyze the alloimmunization against red blood cells (RBC) among Kuwaiti population.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of RBC alloimmunization among 179,045 Kuwaiti patients, pregnant women, and allogeneic blood donors was conducted for the period of 1992-2001. The frequency of 24 alloantibody specificities from 1,278 alloimmunized Kuwaitis was estimated.


RESULTS
The prevalence of positive antibody screen in Kuwait was 0.49%. The five most frequently identified alloantibodies were anti-D (27.3%), anti-E (18.5%), anti-K (15.6%), anti-Le(a) (8.7%), and anti-Le(b) (6.6%). Frequency of alloimmunization was greater among Kuwaiti female than male patients (3.2 F to 1 M). Anti-D (p<0.001), anti-E (p=0.05), anti-K (p=0.04) were also more frequently identified alloantibody among Kuwaiti females.


CONCLUSIONS
The results show higher predominance of RBC alloimmunization in females than males. Anti-D, anti-E, and anti-K were the most common clinically significant alloantibodies identified in the Kuwaiti population and were also more frequent among Kuwaiti females.
Ameen
Reem
R
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kuwait University, Kuwait. reemameen@hotmail.com
Al-Eyaadi
Ohood
O
Al-Shemmari
Salem
S
Chowdhury
Rafiqul
R
Al-Bashir
Abdulaziz
A
D001782:Blood Donors; D001789:Blood Group Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D003241:Consanguinity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D007730:Kuwait / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018029:Rho(D) Immune Globulin; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012698:Serologic Tests; D017678:Sex Distribution
D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D007518:Isoantibodies; C061961:RHO(D) antibody; D018029:Rho(D) Immune Globulin