The Prevalence of Red Blood Cell Alloantibodies
in Lower Northern Thailand
Pasuporn Pongernnak MD*, Sutida Sasjeenpong BSc**,
Kanjanaporn Chuesakul BSc**, Kullanit Pangwangthong BSc**
Affiliation :
* Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand
** Blood Bank Unit, Naresuan University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand
Background : Hemolytic transfusion reactions due to the presence of pre-existing alloantibodies are among the most common
immunologic adverse effects in transfusion medicine. In addition to determining the presence and characteristics of the
specific alloantibodies, one of the major obstacles is the selection of compatible blood units that lack the corresponding
antigens to avoid such transfusion reactions. A delay in this process can lead to various detrimental complications.
Objective : To characterize the prevalence and specificity of alloantibodies in patients from lower northern Thailand who
required a blood transfusion.
Material and Method: A retrospective review of the Blood Bank database of Naresuan University, Thailand, was conducted.
Thirty one thousand four hundred patients who had been screened for the presence of alloantibodies between January 2007
and April 2014 were reviewed. The standard test tube method was used in all patients to identify the specificity of alloantibodies
against red blood cell surface antigens.
Results : Among the 31,400 patients, 169 patients (0.54%) were found to have pre-existing red blood cell alloantibodies.
Anti-Mi (anti-Miltenberger blood group) was the most common alloantibody identified (43.79%). Other common
alloantibodies were anti-E (18.34%), anti-P1 (17.75%), anti-Lea (17.16%), and anti-Leb (9.47%).
Conclusion : To minimize hemolytic transfusion reactions, we recommend greater availability and issuing of Mi, E, P1, Lea,
and Leb-matched blood units for patients with known alloantibodies against these antigens, or for patients who require
multiple transfusions. This is in addition to the standard pre-transfusion screening and cross-matching processes.
Keywords : Red cell alloantibodies, Antibody specificity, Unexpected antibodies, Alloimmunization
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