ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to analyze the alloimmunization against red blood cells [RBC] among Kuwaiti population. Materials and Retrospective analysis of RBC alloimmunization among 179,045 Kuwaiti patients, pregnant women, and allogeneic blood donors was conducted for the period of 1992-2001. The frequency of 24 alloantibody specificities from 1,278 alloimmunized Kuwaitis was estimated. Flesults: The prevalence of positive antibody screen in Kuwait was 0.49%.The five most frequently identified alloantibodies were anti-D [27.3%], anti-E [18.5%], anti-K [15.6%], anti-Le[a] [8.7%], and anti-Le[b] [6.6%]. Frequency of alloimmunization was greater among Kuwaiti female than male patients [3.2 F to 1 M]. Anti-D [p < 0.001], anti-E [p = 0.05], anti-K [p = 0.04] were also more frequently identified alloantibody among Kuwaiti females. The results show higher predominance of RBC alloimmunization in females than males. Anti-D, anti-E, and anti-K were the most common clinically significant alloantibodies identified in the Kuwaiti population and were also more frequent among Kuwaiti females