A simple, practical model for reducing alloimmunization in patients with sickle cell disease

Am J Hematol. 1993 Jun;43(2):103-6. doi: 10.1002/ajh.2830430206.

Abstract

Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) form immune alloantibodies more frequently than other transfused populations because red cells (RBCs) from white donors (with a higher incidence of certain Rh, Duffy, Kell, and Kidd blood group antigens) are transfused to black patients often lacking these antigens. We propose a model to reduce alloimmunization in patients with SCD by providing them with blood from only black random donors. Rationale is shown by examining calculations based on the phenotype E-, C-, Fy(a-), K-, and Jk(b-). There is a 7% probability that this phenotype belongs to a white donor, while there is a 93% probability that this phenotype belongs to a black donor. The probability of selecting blood from a black donor identical with the above phenotype for black recipients from an all black population and from a typical urban blood inventory population (90% white, 10% black) is 1/4 and 1/33, respectively. Therefore, an 8-fold greater chance of selecting antigen non-identical blood occurs if blood is obtained from a typical urban donor population as compared to a black population. Based on these calculations, alloimmunization can be reduced prospectively in patients with SCD by meeting their transfusion requirements with blood selected from random black blood donors.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Antibody Formation
  • Black People*
  • Blood Donors*
  • Blood Transfusion*
  • Humans
  • Isoantibodies / immunology*
  • Isoantigens / analysis
  • Phenotype
  • Random Allocation
  • Sickle Cell Trait / immunology*
  • Sickle Cell Trait / therapy*
  • Urban Population
  • White People

Substances

  • Isoantibodies
  • Isoantigens