Alloimmunization in multitransfused liver disease patients: Impact of underlying disease.
BACKGROUND
Transfusion support is vital to the management of patients with liver diseases. Repeated transfusions are associated with many risks such as transfusion-transmitted infection, transfusion immunomodulation, and alloimmunization.


METHODS
A retrospective data analysis of antibody screening and identification was done from February 2012 to February 2014 to determine the frequency and specificity of irregular red-cell antibodies in multitransfused liver disease patients. The clinical and transfusion records were reviewed. The data was compiled, statistically analyzed, and reviewed.


RESULTS
A total of 842 patients were included in our study. Alloantibodies were detected in 5.22% of the patients. Higher rates of alloimmunization were seen in patients with autoimmune hepatitis, cryptogenic liver disease, liver damage due to drugs/toxins, and liver cancer patients. Patients with alcoholic liver disease had a lower rate of alloimmunization. The alloimmunization was 12.7% (23/181) in females and 3.17% (21/661) in males. Antibodies against the Rh system were the most frequent with 27 of 44 alloantibodies (61.36%). The most common alloantibody identified was anti-E (11/44 cases, 25%), followed by anti-C (6/44 cases, 13.63%).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that alloimmunization rate is affected by underlying disease. Provision of Rh and Kell phenotype-matched blood can significantly reduce alloimmunization.
Department of Transfusion Medicine, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Meenu
M
Bajpai
Department of Transfusion Medicine, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Shruti
S
Gupta
Department of Research, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Priyanka
P
Jain
Alloimmunization; liver diseases; multitransfused