title: Red blood cell alloimmunization in multitransfused patients in a tertiary care center in Western India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the seroprevalence and specificity of red blood cell (RBC) antibodies in multitransfused patients, in whom the risk of alloimmunization is especially high.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective study on blood specimens from 200 multitransfused patients. We evaluated all specimens for alloimmunization using various immunohematological tests via the column agglutination technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of RBC alloantibodies was 5.5%. Of the 11 specific types of alloantibodies identified, most (72.7%) belonged to the Rh blood group system, followed by the S, M, and Lewis blood group systems (9.1% each).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most alloantibodies were of the Rh blood group specificity. To improve the quality of blood supplied, especially to patients with thalassemia, we recommend that Rh phenotyped, cross-match-compatible blood should be issued to prevent complications such as acute and delayed hemolytic reactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, Maharashtra, India addressed.eoj_in@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Philip
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Amit Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Biswas
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Sumathi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hiregoudar
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Neerja
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kushwaha
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007518:Isoantibodies
keywords: alloimmunization; antibody identification; column agglutination technique; hemato-oncologic diseases; multitransfused; thalassemia