Alloantibodies to High-Incidence Antigen: Review of Cases and Transfusion Experiences in Korea / 대한수혈학회지

Antibodies to high-incidence red blood cell antigens should be considered if panagglutination reactions are noted in all panel cells, and negative reactions to autologous red blood cells are detected on antibody screening and identification tests. In Korea, most of those antibodies are identified through international reference laboratories. To prevent a hemolytic transfusion reaction, antigen-negative red cells should be provided for those patients who have antibodies to red cell antigens. However, this is nearly impossible when the antibody has specificity to high-incidence red cell antigen. In those cases, transfusion of autologous blood, cryopreserved rare blood and the least incompatible blood components can be considered. In the case of surgery, acute normovolemic hemodilution or intraoperative blood salvage can also be considered. For the patients who have antibodies to high-incidence red cell antigens, it should be discussed to set up a national reference laboratory to quickly identify antibody specificities, and to consider establishing rare blood donor registry and frozen rare blood storage/supply system. This article reviews characteristics of antibodies to high-incidence antigens found in Koreans and also the transfusion experiences of those patients based on literature.

Anti-Ok(a) Antibody: The First Case Report in Korea / 대한수혈학회지

Anti-Ok(a) was detected in a 56-year-old female patient who was admitted for surgical treatment of degenerative scoliosis. Because Oka is a high-incidence antigen, anti-Ok(a) antibody is extremely rare. No case of hemolytic transfusion reaction or hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn caused by anti-Ok(a) antibody has been reported so far, however, it is likely that anti-Ok(a) is clinically significant based on several in vivo and in vitro studies. When a patient who is bearing anti-Ok(a) needs transfusion of RBCs, transfusion of autologous blood or Ok(a-) RBCs from family members is recommended.