ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The following study was conducted to measure the presence of alloantibodies of Rh and other blood group antigens produced due to fetomaternal hemorrhage in all antenatal women as well as those leading to hemolytic disease of fetus and newborn; presenting to a tertiary care center, G.G. Government Hospital, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India, between April 2014 and March 2016 (2 years). MATERIALS AND METHODS: All multiparous women irrespective of their period of gestation or obstetrics history were included whereas those having taken anti-D immunoprophylaxis or with a history of blood transfusion were excluded. Antibody screening and identification were done using Bio-Rad ID microtyping system. RESULTS: Out of total 8920 multigravida females, 8488 were D-antigen positive whereas 432 were D-antigen negative. A total of 126 antibodies among 117 females (1.31%) were found; out of them, 33 were found in D-antigen positive females (0.39%) and 84 in D-antigen negative ones (19.44%) looking at overall frequency of other antibodies such as anti-C: 9, anti-c: 9, anti-E: 13, anti-Cw: 1, anti-M: 5, anti-S: 8, anti-Fya: 3, and anti-D: 78; it was found that anti-D is the most common. CONCLUSION: The rate of alloimmunization in D-antigen negative women was found to be very high as compared to other studies in western region; hence, strict follow-up of immunoprophylaxis of all Rh D-negative women needs to be taken care of. Apart from this, D-antigen-positive women also show alloimmunization against various antigens giving the prevalence of 0.39%; hence, it should be mandatory that there should be one standard universal protocol for screening of all antenatal women.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Repeated blood transfusions can result in the production of alloantibodies against one or more red cell antigens, which complicates subsequent transfusions. Aims: The study was done to find incidence of various red cell alloantibodies; to determine the type of alloantibody; to identify the factors such as frequency of transfusion, splenectomy status, donor ethnicity and gender and their association with the development of antibody in repeatedly transfused patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was carried out in Dept. of IHBT, Shree M. P. Shah Medical College, Jamnagar, Gujarat. Blood was taken from the patients of thalassemia major, sickle cell disease, chronic renal failure, post partum haemorrhage, aplastic anemia, Myelodysplastic syndrome with more than 10 red cell transfusions. The plasma/serum was used for antibody screening and antibody identification test. Three cell antibody screening was performed using antihuman globulin gel cards (ID-Card LISS/Coombs) and three cell panel (ID-DiaCell I, II, III-Asia). Those with positive antibody screening were analyzed further for antibody identification test using eleven cell panel (Set ID-Dia Panel). RESULTS: Antibody screening and identification was done in 2 consecutive set of samples (n = 300) which showed, nine (9) patients (3%) were alloimmunized. All repeatedly transfused patients had developed alloantibody before the starting of study period, no patient developed new alloantibody during study period. CONCLUSIONS: Alloantibodies should be identified in repeatedly transfused patients and should be given corresponding antigen negative blood unit which will minimize the antibody mediated destruction of transfused red cells.
