title: Red cell alloimmunization in sickle-cell anaemia patients.
abstract: This study in King Fahd Hospital of the University, Saudi Arabia, assessed the frequency of alloimmunization to red cell antigens in sickle-cell anaemia patients over 1996-2004 in order to evaluate the risk of alloimmunization and identify the most common alloantibodies. A retrospective analysis of the transfusion history and medical records of 350 patients aged 2 to 75 years who had received at least 1 transfusion found that 48 patients had developed alloantibodies (13.7%). The most common alloantibodies detected were: anti-E alone (18.8%), nonspecific (12.5%), inconclusive (12.5%), anti-K (10.4%) and anti-c 3 (6.3%). Some patients had 1 alloantibody, while others more than 1 and even multiple antibodies. Nine patients had a persistent positive direct antiglobulin test.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, King Fahd Hospital of the University/King Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia. laylabashawri@yahoo.com
authors.forename: L A M
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Bashawri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000628:therapy*; D001787:Blood Group Incompatibility / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D003298:Coombs Test; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000097:blood; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007518:Isoantibodies