Incidence of alloimunization in sickle cell disease: experience of a center in São Paulo

Abstract

Objective: To identify the incidence of alloimmunization in sicklecell disease patients, as well as autoantibodies and the phenotypicprofile of these patients for the following erythrocyte antigengroups: Rh, Kell, Kidd, Duffy and MNS. Methods: fifty-sevenpatients were evaluated during follow-up at the Anemia OutpatientClinic of Irmandade da Santa Casa de São Paulo, where a searchfor irregular antibodies and phenotyping was carried out. Results:Patients’ median alloimmunization age in sickle cell disease was25 years, and irregular antibodies were found in 22.6% of them.Anti-Kell antibody was the most frequent (7.5%) followed by anti-C(5.7%). Conclusion: The prevalence of alloimmunization and ofpatients with autoantibodies among individuals with sickle celldisease followed at the Anemia Outpatient Clinic of Irmandade daSanta Casa de Misericórdia de São de Paulo was determined. Therisk of alloimmunization was higher in patients who received morethan 3 red blood cell units in the past 2 years. The most prevalentalloantibodies were anti-Kell and anti-C.

Keywords

• Anemia
• sickle cell/immunology
• Blood transfusion
• Autoantibodies
• Blood group antigens