Original Research

Red cell alloantibodies in beta-thalassaemia major patients’ blood referring to the regional blood transfusion center of Tehran, Iran

Introduction

Thalassemia is a genetically inherited disease (GID) that is caused by a deficiency in the production of globin chains, a critical constituent of red blood cells (RBCs), upon which chain is less produced, are classified such as α, β, and αβ. Thalassemia is common in the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Mediterranean region, also manifesting from severe (major) to mild (minor). Thalassemia has been recognized as one of the most significant complex disorders and is presumed to have some genetic interactions. ^1-3 In order to deal with these conditions, long-term vigilance, regular blood transfusion, and monetary burden are introduced. ⁴ The inevitable complications may be due to this route of medication, including the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections, transfusion-related immunologic reactions such as pyretic, allergic, acute, and chronic haemolytic forms, as well as iron overload. However, the incidence of transfusion-transmitted infections is rare due to the advanced technologies used in blood screening. ^5-8 Alloantibody production against the unknown, RBCs is called ‘alloimmunization’, which involves one of the most important complications in thalassemia patients with multiple blood transfusions. Due to obstacles to providing suitable blood for these patients, dangerous hyperhaemolysis syndrome, the extensive incidence of additional alloantibody and autoantibodies production, and delayed haemolytic blood transfusion reaction, alloimmunization may lead to complications in transfusion therapy. ^9-13 In order to prevent alloimmunization, it is strongly recommended to apply enhanced methods for characterizing the phenotype of the matched red cells for transfusion. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of alloantibodies in thalassemia patients according to Tehran Regional Blood Transfusion Center references.

Materials and Methods

Antibody screening and panel test

This is a descriptive study. A total of 184 blood samples from thalassemia patients, referred to the Tehran Regional Blood Transfusion Center from different hospitals throughout Tehran and also Bahonar Hospital of Karaj (for each patient that the hospital was unable to provide suitable blood) along with data from individuals such as age, sex, blood group, history of transfusion, and any possible reaction during their last transfusion was obtained. Regular Rh D and ABO antigen tests were performed in patients before transfusion. In this study, a handheld tube method was used for screening and identification with Biovista kit (Reference Laboratory of Immunohematology, Tehran-Iran). Before each blood transfusion, serum samples were tested using a standard protocol of blood banks to detect unprecedented antibodies against RBCs. After mixing sera with RBCs suspended in saline, a short spin was performed. Subsequently, after checking the agglutination to find out the presence of cold antibodies, albumin 22% was added and then incubated at 37^oC for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, tubes were observed for the presence of agglutination. Afterward, the samples were washed three times with normal saline. Finally, the drying procedure was carried out and two drops of anti-human globulin were added. A combination of antibody screening experiments and three categories of commercial group O RBCs were assigned as regular for rare and clinically significant antigens. The three above- mentioned classes of commercial group O RBCs were specified as Dia cells I, II, and III (R₁R₁, R₂R_2, and rr). An identification test was performed by a Dia panel, consisting of 11 different groups of O RBCs, to examine sera with a Dia cell (I or II or III).

Statistical analysis

Data were analyzed using SPSS v16.0 software and the chi-square test with a confidence level of 95% and P value <0.05 was considered as a significant statistical difference.

Results

The 184 subjects enrolled in this study were suffering from beta-thalassemia major, undergoing routine transfusion procedure in 3-5 week intervals, and receiving Rh D and ABO matched homologues. In our study, males and females constituted 66 (35.87%) and 118 (64.13%) patients, respectively, among which 116 subjects (63%) were already alloimmunization. In addition, 68 thalassemia subjects (37%) lacked alloantibody. Summarizes the age distribution of thalassemia patients with/without alloantibodies. Statistically, the prevalence of alloantibodies was significantly correlated with age (P = 0.018) in Table 1. We demonstrated the correlation of age group with sex and alloantibodies, as well as the distribution of alloantibodies based on the blood group system shown in Table 2. No significant relationship was found between alloantibodies with sex and blood group system (P > 0.05). In addition, the discovered alloantibodies are shown in Tables 3 and 4. Of the 184 patients with beta-thalassemia major, anti-K (Kell system), anti-D, and anti-E (Rhesus system) were the most frequent alloantibodies with an incidence of 24 (13%), 11 (5.98%), and 10 (5.4%), respectively. Sixty-four cases (55.14%) of single, 36 cases (31%) of double-antibody, 11 cases (9.5%) of triple antibody, four cases (3.5%) of quadruple antibody, and one case (0.86%) of quintuple antibody were detected among the positive individuals. In accordance with the age classification, the identification of antibodies identified is shown in .

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Fig. 1. Correlation of age group with presence of alloantibody (P = 0.018).

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Fig. 2. Frequency of detected alloantibodies according to the number of antibodies in the four age categories (P> 0.05).

Discussion

Only a few studies have investigated the multiplicity of RBC alloimmunization among thalassemia major patients with multiple transfusions in Iran. Consequently, we aimed to determine the red cell alloantibodies in referred blood samples of thalassemia patients to Tehran Regional Blood Transfusion Centre of Iran. It is noteworthy that feto-maternal transfusion, incompatible blood transfusion, in addition to rare instances such as allogeneic transfusion in transplantation cases are the major reasons for the formation of alloantibodies. In this case, considering that multiple transfusions are performed in these populations, thalassemia patients are at high-risk and are exposed to develop red cell alloantibodies with further complications. ^14-16 Although there are variations in reported types of alloantibodies, most are classified as potentially haemolytic. There is a general consensus that typically developed alloantibodies are produced against the Kell system and Rh subgroups. ^17-20

According to our results, this study differs from others in that the prevalence rate of alloantibodies in referred blood samples of the patients with thalassemia to Tehran Regional Blood Transfusion Center is high (63%). Maybe the reason for this high incidence is the fact that hospital blood banks are not able to provide appropriate blood for their respective thalassemia patients, due to multiple transfusions in this population. Therefore, most of these patients respond to transfused blood by producing alloantibody. In Iran, some articles have also reported the prevalence of alloantibodies, such as Azarkeivan et al with 12.1% [the most common alloantibodies were Anti-kell (33%), Anti-Rh (D) (10.9%), Anti-Rh (E) (9.9%)] Karimi et al with 5.6% [Anti-kell (33%), Anti-Rh (D) (10.9%), Anti-Rh (E) (9.9%)] and Shamsian et al with 7.4%. Similarly, studies in Turkey and Egypt showed a 6.4% and 11.3% prevalence rate, respectively, but Kuwait and Taiwan showed a higher rate with 30% and 37%, respectively. ^{4,17,18,20-22}

Of the 184 thalassemia patients in our study, 66 were male and 118 were female. In addition, 116 (63%) patients had alloantibodies and 68 (37%) had no alloantibodies. Among the four categorized age groups (0–10, 11–20, 21–30, and above 30), the blood group of 21–30 class included the most diverse alloantibodies, with 45 (24.5%) out of 116 patients having alloantibody. In a study led by Azarkeivan et al in Iran, 22 (7.7%) out of 287 cases in a paediatric group and 79 (14.4%) out of 548 adults were alloantibody positive. In Kuwait, Ameen et al demonstrated that 66 (49.6%) out of 190 patients aged 2–10 years had alloantibodies. ^17-20 Among various age groups, 64 thalassemia patients had a single antibody and most of them belonged to the 21–39-year age group with 23 cases (40%). According to our findings, the most common antibody is against Kell. The best way to manage alloimmunized patients is by identifying the type of alloantibodies and negative antigen blood transfusions. However, if alloantibodies are developed against high prevalence antigens, it will be extremely difficult to find compatible blood. In this case, using blood from relatives, especially siblings, can be helpful. Also, one may determine clinically important phenotype antigens of the blood groups in these patients and give them fully compatible blood. Due to the limitations of serological methods in determining the phenotype of patients with recurrent blood transfusions, the genotypes can be used instead. In a 3-year study by Putzulu et al. blood group genotypes were determined on 1220 regular blood donors and 10 patients with periodic blood transfusion (thalassemia and anemia cycle of tuberculosis), within 3 years the blood was completely compatible with the genotype for transfused patients. Screening for alloantibodies showed that no alloantibody was induced during a 3- year blood transfusion period, and patients who had already been alloimmunized revealed no increase in their antibody levels; so the correct determination of the blood group through the genotype can have a significant effect on the reduction of alloimmunization and the production of antibodies. ²³

Finally, we recommend that hospitals and related centers be more attentive when conducting cross-match testing.

Conclusion

It is noteworthy that one of the likely adverse consequences of blood transfusion in patients suffering from thalassemia is the process of alloimmunization obtained from foreign RBC supplies. Before RBC transfusion, regular RBC antigen phenotypes as well as resolving the problem of alloantibody production by receiving compatible blood, regarding Kell and RH subgroups, are suggested for all the transfusion-derived thalassemia cases. In addition, the high prevalence rate of alloantibodies in our study may be due to inappropriate compatibility between donor and recipient in hospital centers.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the head of Tehran Blood Transfusion Center (Dr. Seyyed Morteza Tabatabaei), for his assistance in conducting this research.

Funding sources

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Ethical statement

The sample was collected after being informed. Their consent was confirmed according to the guidelines of the Ethical Committee of Tehran Blood Transfusion Center. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee in 2018-May-15, with issue number 97/D/800.

Competing interests

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Authors’ contribution

PE: Research idea, experimental, and writing manuscript. ZB: experimental and statistical analysis. HM: writing manuscript and provision of study materials and equipment.

Research Highlights

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