The clinical significance of antibody screening test including Dia+ panel cell in Asian-Mongoloid populations

The Di(a) antigen is well known as one of the antigens with low incidence among Caucasians; however, it has been discovered with a relatively higher incidence among Mongoloid populations. Thus, it has been speculated that the incidence of unexpected antibody against the Di(a) antigen might be relatively higher among these populations. Hemolytic transfusion reactions (HTRs) and hemolytic disease of the newborns (HDNs) caused by anti-Di(a) have been reported sporadically. However, there has been no prospective study on the incidence of anti-Di(a) in Mongoloid populations particularly. The authors conducted a series of antibody screening tests on 11,219 Korean individuals for 25 months, by using three kinds of screening cells including Di(a) cell. Anti-Di(a) was detected in 8 patients, seven of whom had a history of transfusions or were multigravida. The incidence of anti-Di(a) measured in this study was higher than expected, ranked third among unexpected antibodies identified during the period of the study, so it is strongly recommended that the Di(a+) panel cell must be incorporated into antibody screening test for safer transfusion in Asian-Mongoloid populations.