Significance of Detecting Antierythrocyte Antibodies in Pretransfusion Testing

Transfusion treatment during life, as well as pregnancy in women, can stimulate the sensitization of the person who received blood, which after the transfusion of blood products can result in the occurrence of moderate to very severe posttransfusion reactions.

The aim of this study was to examine the specificity and frequency of antierythrocyte antibodies during the pretransfusion treatment of patients depending on the gender, to determine the origin of antibodies in patients serum, as well as to examine their clinical significance.

Retrospective analysis of documentation was performed in the Department for Pretransfusion Testing, therapy and distribution of blood products, Polyclinic for Transfusion, UKC Tuzla. Data was analyzed by reviewing the written and electronic documentation from the period of 5 years (2018-2022).

A retrospective analysis of 378 procedures for the identification of antierythrocyte antibodies was performed. It was evident that 140 of all detected antibodies belonged to the Rh-system (66.7%), of which 32.4% were anti RhD-antibodies, 20% anti Rh-E, anti Rh-c 7.1%, and in a low percent of anti-C, anti-e and anti-Cw antibodies. Combinations of anti-D and anti-C antibodies showed the highest frequency (34.2%), followed by a combination of anti-E and anti-c antibodies (21%).

Pretransfusion testing represents a very important link in the safety of the use of blood. The identification of antierythrocyte antibodies and the use of phenotyped blood products significantly reduces the risk of posttransfusion reactions and facilitates the implementation of the safe blood policy.