Red Cell Phenotyping in Thalassemia Patient at Songklanagarind Hospital

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of Rh, Kidd and Duffy phenotypes in thalassemia major patients with regular transfusion which may develop antibodies to red cell antigens that can be a significant complication of transfusion therapy. Red cell phenotyping for thalassemic patients at Songklanagarind Hospital will be helpful in antibody identification of single or multiple alloantibodies such as anti-C, anti-c, anti-e, anti-Jka, anti-Jkb, anti-Fya, and anti-Fyb. In addition, to understand phenotypes, antigens, and other blood group information may help in choosing the right blood for the patients. A total of 100 thalassemic patients between 2002-2014 who had not been previously typed, were the subjects of this study. Antigens of Rh, Kidd and Duffy systems were determined by the standard conventional tube method of red cell typing, column agglutination technique (CAT) and gel technique. The results of probable genotype in Rh system were DCe/DCe (R1R1) = 41%, DCe/DcE (R1R2) = 41%, DCe/Dce (R1R0) = 11%, DcE/DcE (R2R2) = 3%, DCE/DcE (RZR2) = 3% and DcE/Dce (R2R0) = 1%. In Kidd system, the phenotypes were Jk (a+b+) = 61%, Jk (a-b+) = 27%, Jk (a+b-) = 12%, and Jk (a-b-) = 0% and in Duffy system, the phenotypes were Fy (a+b+) = 55% Fy (a+b-) = 42%, Fy (a-b+) = 2% and Fy (a-b-) = 1%. This study showed that 41% of the patients had all antigens in Rh system (C, c, D, E, e), 61% of the patients were Jk (a+b+) phenotype and 55% of the patients were Fy (a+b+) phenotype. In conclusion, studying the frequency of Rh, Kidd and Duffy antigens in thalassemic major patients can be helpful in selecting antigen negative blood in order to prevent red all alloimmunization espectially in emergency situation.

Keywords

• antigen
• red cell
• thalassemia