title: Prospective surveillance of D- recipients of D+ apheresis platelets: alloimmunization against D is not detected.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent retrospective studies indicate that D- recipients of D+ apheresis platelets (PLTs) are not alloimmunized to D. Our hospital policy is to offer RhIG to D- women of childbearing age who received D+ apheresis PLTs but not to other D- recipients of D+ apheresis PLTs. We instituted prospective surveillance of the D- recipients who were not given RhIG.
  
  
  METHODS
  All apheresis PLT recipients were prospectively entered into a database that recorded the patient's age, sex, diagnosis, D status, apheresis PLT transfusions, and antibody screen results from before and after PLT transfusions. Data are reported for PLTs transfused between October 16, 2012, and April 16, 2014, and antibody screens obtained through June 16, 2014. The analysis excludes neonates; women not more than 50 years of age; and patients who also received D+ red blood cells, received only D- PLTs, received RhIG, were previously alloimmunized to D, and did not have a follow-up antibody screen after the first D-incompatible apheresis PLT transfusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 158 of 1107 apheresis PLT recipients were D-. Seventy-nine were eligible for analysis based on the exclusion criteria listed above. None became alloimmunized to D during the observation interval. In 45 (57%) cases the last follow-up antibody screen was obtained at least 4 weeks after the first D-incompatible apheresis PLT transfusion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prospective surveillance confirms prior retrospective observations that D- patients do not appear to risk D alloimmunization after receiving D+ apheresis PLTs.
authors.affiliation: Division of Transfusion Medicine, UMass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, Massachusetts.|Department of Medicine, UMass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, Massachusetts.|Department of Pathology, UMass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, Massachusetts.|Transfusion Medicine Service, UMass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, Massachusetts.|University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weinstein
authors.affiliation: Transfusion Medicine Service, UMass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Amie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Simard
authors.affiliation: Transfusion Medicine Service, UMass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Jillian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ferschke
authors.affiliation: Transfusion Medicine Service, UMass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vauthrin
authors.affiliation: Division of Transfusion Medicine, UMass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, Massachusetts.|Department of Medicine, UMass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, Massachusetts.|Transfusion Medicine Service, UMass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, Massachusetts.|University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.affiliation: Transfusion Medicine Service, UMass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Mindy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Greene
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010983:Plateletpheresis; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012203:Rh Isoimmunization / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007518:Isoantibodies; C033242:RH-antibodies; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System