Existence and significance of anti-HLA-C autoantibodies to primary and persistent platelet transfusion refractoriness in patients with hematologic disorders: a retrospective study from a single centre

Ann Med. 2025 Dec;57(1):2446689. doi: 10.1080/07853890.2024.2446689. Epub 2024 Dec 28.

Abstract

Objectives: Platelet transfusion refractoriness (PTR) is a frustrating clinical problem, and primary and persistent (P/P) PTR who experienced persistent PTR since the first transfusion was failed to be well recognized. This study aims to investigate the incidence and risk factors for P/P PTR.

Methods: Patients with hematologic disorders who underwent HLA high-resolution genotyping and donor-specific HLA antibody or panel reactive antibody (PRA) testing between January 2019 and March 2023 were reviewed. Clinical data including infection history, splenomegaly, frequency and quantity of blood transfusions, and transfusions response were delineated and subsequently analyzed.

Results: 114 patients were included retrospectively, and 1071 transfusions were recorded. The overall incidence of PTR was 28.95% (33/114), with 63.63% (21/33) being P/P PTR. Anti class I HLA (anti-HLA-I) antibody was identified as an independent risk factor for ineffective platelet transfusion through multivariate logistic regression analysis (p = .034). Interestingly, anti-HLA-C autoantibodies were first found in six patients, and both anti-HLA-A and C autoantibodies were detected in one case, comprising a total of 10.71% (6/56) of HLA-I antibody-positive patients. Further analysis revealed that anti-HLA-C autoantibody was identified as an independent risk factor for P/P PTR (p = .039). Among patients with positive anti-HLA-C antibodies, significant differences in the effectiveness of ABO, D-matched and cross-matching transfusions were observed between patients with or without anti-HLA-C autoantibodies (p < .001 and p = .017). Notably, platelet transfusions independence was achieved by two of the four patients who received rituximab.

Conclusions: This work emphasized the significance of anti-HLA-C autoantibody for P/P PTR in hematological patients, and rituximab may therapeutic.

Keywords: Platelet transfusion refractoriness; anti-HLA antibody; anti-HLA-C autoantibody; hematologic disorders.

Plain language summary

28.95% who experienced platelet transfusion refractoriness (PTR), 23 were primary and persistent (P/P) PTRAnti-HLA-C autoantibody was identified as an independent risk factor for P/P PTRApplication of rituximab may practical in the management of P/P PTR with HLA-C autoantibodies.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Autoantibodies* / blood
  • Autoantibodies* / immunology
  • Female
  • HLA-C Antigens* / immunology
  • Hematologic Diseases* / immunology
  • Hematologic Diseases* / therapy
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Platelet Transfusion*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Treatment Failure

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • HLA-C Antigens

Grants and funding

This research was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (NO. 82174138, 82304937), Zhejiang Scientific Research Fund of Traditional Chinese Medicine (NO. 2020ZB085), Clinical Medical Research Project of Zhejiang Medical Association (NO.2022ZYC-Z25), Zhejiang Province Traditional Chinese Medicine Technology Project (NO. 2024ZL431), Project of Academic Inheritance Studio of Famous and Aged Chinese Medicine Experts in Zhejiang Province (NO. GZS2021022), The Excellent Youth Backbone Talents Domestic Visiting and Training Project of Anhui Provincial Education Department (NO. GXGNFX2022158), and the Natural Science Research Project of Anhui Provincial Education Department (NO. 2023AH052841).