Study of possible clinical and laboratory predictors of alloimmunization against red blood cell antigens in cancer patients.
BACKGROUND
The inflammatory background of patients influences the process of alloimmunization against red blood cell antigens. Proof of this statement to clinical practice is still lacking.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to verify whether factors related to disease severity and inflammatory status of cancer patients can predict alloimmunization.


METHODS
This was a case-control study in which alloimmunized oncologic patients treated between 2009 and 2012 were compared with a non-alloimmunized control group regarding the severity of the disease (metastasis/performance status/body mass index) and C-reactive protein levels.


RESULTS
The groups did not differ significantly in terms of C-reactive protein, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG)/Karnofsky performance status, presence of metastasis and body mass index.


CONCLUSIONS
It is not possible to predict alloimmunization in cancer patients based on severity of illness and inflammatory markers. Strategies of screening patients by phenotyping blood based on these criteria are not justified.
Fundação Pró-Sangue - Hemocentro de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Carla Luana
CL
Dinardo
Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo - ICESP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Gláucia Munemasa
GM
Ito
Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo - ICESP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Luciana Ribeiro
LR
Sampaio
Fundação Pró-Sangue - Hemocentro de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Alfredo
A
Mendrone Júnior
Beta-globins; Beta-thalassemia; Lipid peroxidation; Mutation; Oxidative stress; Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances