Transfusion Practice, Post-Transfusion Complications and Risk Factors in Sickle Cell Disease in Senegal, West Africa

Blood transfusions (BT) remain a mainstay of therapy for patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) but pose significant clinical challenges. We aim to assess infectious markers, red cell alloimmunization, and iron overload secondary to BT in SCD patients.

This case-control study included 253 SCD (153 SCD-transfused and 100 SCD non-transfused). We evaluated the transfusion practice (modalities, indications), post-transfusion complications (infections, alloimmunization, iron overload), and risk factors of these complications (socio-demographic, clinical, biological).

Median age was 28.5 years (5 - 59). The sex ratio was 0.86. Homozygous SCD was the most common (95.3%). Simple BT was performed in 92.8% and transfusion exchange in 18.9%. Transfusion indications were dominated by acute anemia (57.06%) and vaso-occlusive crisis (VOCs) (14%). Red blood cell concentrates (RBCSs) were administered to 93.46%. The median RBCs received per patient was 10 (2 - 48). The prevalence of VHC in SCD-transfused was 1.33% and 2% for VHB. Anti-HIV antibodies were not found. Red cell alloimmunization frequency was 16%. The most common alloantibodies were anti-rhesus (34.19%) and anti-Kell (23.67%). Iron overload was detected in 7.84%. The number of RBCs transfused was the only risk factor for alloimmunization (p = 0.03) and iron overload (p = 0.023). BT frequency was not related to infectious transmission.

BT therapy is still a risk for SCD polytransfused patients despite advances in blood safety. Although infectious transmission has rare, the risk of alloimmunization and iron overload is high in these patients.