HLA antibodies in multiple transfused patients

Totally 86 patients with multiple transfusions were followed up regularly for more than six months. Their sera were screened for HLA antibodies every two to four weeks. Subsequently 28 (33%) of them developed HLA antibodies. The specificities of identified antibodies were anti-A2, All, B16 and B60. However, most of the antibodies were either multiple or undetermined. The panel reactive activity (PRA) was correlated with the amount of blood components transfused. We concluded that about one third of the patients will develop HLA antibodies after multiple transfusions and the reactivity of the antibodies is correlated to the amount of blood components transfused.