The prevalence and pattern of alloimmunization in patients with sickle cell disease in Abuja, Nigeria

One of the components of comprehensive care and interventions in managing patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) is red blood cell transfusion. This has helped in reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with SCD. Individuals who undergo multiple red cell transfusions are faced with alloimmunization which makes it difficult to source compatible blood for them. This often leads to haemolytic reactions and sometimes death of the patients. In this study, we determined the prevalence and pattern of alloimmunization in patients with SCD.

This was a cross-sectional study of 205 patients with SCD aged 1-45 years, attending the sickle cell clinic at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, Abuja. Antibody detection and identification were done using the tube technique (Lone Laboratories UK). The data was analyzed and reported in percentages and descriptive statistics.

Of the 205 participants, 115 (56.1 %) were males while 90 (43.9 %) were females. 99 (48.8 %) of the patients had been transfused two or more times while 49(23.9 %) were transfused only once. Fifty-seven (27.8 %) participants have never had a transfusion. The following blood group systems were observed in 26 alloimmunized SCD participants; Rh (D/E/e/C/Cw) 46 %, Kell19.2 %, Lewis 11.5 %, MNS 3.8 %, Duffy 23.0 %. All 26 participants have had more than one episode of blood transfusion.

The prevalence rate was 17.6 % and Rh alloantibodies were common among patients with SCD who have received multiple transfusions. Proper blood detection and identification of alloantibodies should be promoted before blood transfusion to manage these patients better.