Red cell alloimmunization and autoantibodies in Egyptian transfusion-dependent thalassaemia patients

The objective of this study was to explore the frequency of red cell alloantibodies and autoantibodies among β-thalassaemia patients who received regular transfusions.

This study included 501 patients with β-thalassaemia. This work planned to study the presence of alloantibodies and autoantibodies to different red cell antigens in multitransfused thalassaemia patients using the ID. Card micro typing system.

Of a total of 501 β-thalassaemia patients included in the study, 11.3% of patients developed alloantibodies; 9.7% of these alloantibodies were clinically significant. The most common alloantibodies were anti-K, anti-E and anti-C. The rate of incidence of these alloantibodies was 3.9%, 3.3% and 1.7% respectively. Autoantibodies occurred in 28.8% of the patients and 22.1% of these antibodies were typed IgG. There was a significant association between splenectomy with alloimmunization and autoantibody formation (p = 0.03, p = 0.001 respectively). There was no significant association between alloantibody, autoantibody formation and number of transfused packed red cells.

Alloimmunization to minor erythrocyte antigens and erythrocyte autoantibodies of variable clinical significance are frequent findings in transfused β-thalassaemia patients. There is an association between absence of the spleen and the presence of alloimmunization and autoantibody formation.