Blood donors with positive direct antiglobulin tests are at increased risk for cancer

Positive direct antiglobulin tests (DATs) have been associated with both autoimmunity and lymphoproliferative disorders. However, it is unknown whether DAT+ in healthy blood donors is associated with an increased risk of malignancies.

In the current study, all blood donors with DAT+ samples were identified during the years 1999 through 2003 through the Magen David Adom National Blood Services in Israel. This study compared the risk of cancer among 586 DAT+ and 2344 DAT- donors who were matched according to sex, age, and year of donation. The risk of cancer in DAT+ donors was also compared to expected rates in the general Israeli population. Cancer was ascertained through the Israel Cancer Registry.

Malignancies occurred among 17 (2.9%) of the DAT+ and 27 (1.2%) of the DAT- blood donors; of these, 3 donors in the DAT+ group were diagnosed with hematopoietic malignancies within 12 months of their donation. Even after excluding these early cases, the relative risk of developing cancer was 2.14 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13-4.10) comparing DAT+ with DAT- donors, while the relative risk for hematopoietic cancer was 8.3 (95% CI, 1.5-43.2). Comparing DAT+ blood donors with the general population, the standardized incidence ratios (observed/expected cases) were elevated at 2.11 (95% CI, 1.15-3.54; p = 0.16) for all malignancies and 8.03 (95% CI, 2.2-20.6; p = 0.003) for hematologic malignancies.

There is evidence of a significantly increased risk of cancer, especially hematologic malignancies, among blood donors with a positive DAT even within a short follow-up period.