Red Blood Cell Alloimmunization and Autoimmunization in Blood Transfusion-Dependent Sickle Cell Disease and β-Thalassemia Patients in Al-Ahsa Region, Saudi Arabia

Fahd A Kuriri; Abdulrahman Ahmed; Fehaid Alanazi; Fahad Alhumud; Mohammed Ageeli Hakami; Osama Atiatalla Babiker Ahmed

doi:10.1155/2023/3239960

Red Blood Cell Alloimmunization and Autoimmunization in Blood Transfusion-Dependent Sickle Cell Disease and β-Thalassemia Patients in Al-Ahsa Region, Saudi Arabia

Anemia. 2023 Apr 28:2023:3239960. doi: 10.1155/2023/3239960. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Fahd A Kuriri¹, Abdulrahman Ahmed², Fehaid Alanazi³, Fahad Alhumud², Mohammed Ageeli Hakami⁴, Osama Atiatalla Babiker Ahmed¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Shaqra University, Shaqra, Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia.
² Al-Ahsa Health Cluster, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.
³ Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences-AlQurayaat, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Al-Quwayiyah, Shaqra University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Introduction: The risk of developing transfusion-related complications, especially alloimmunization, is an ongoing concern for transfusion-dependent patients. It is important to determine the rate of alloimmunization and autoimmunization in Al-Ahsa Region, Saudi Arabia, where sickle cell disease (SCD) and thalassemia incidence rates are the highest in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to review the transfusion history of patients with SCD and thalassemia at the King Fahad Hospital (KFH) in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. 364 transfusion-dependent patients were included in this study.

Results: Alloimmunization rates in patients with SCD and thalassemia were 16.7% and 11.97%, respectively, while autoimmunization rates in patients with SCD and thalassemia were 5.3% and 0.7%, respectively. The most frequent alloantibodies among the study participants were against Kell, Rh blood group systems.

Conclusion: Blood transfusion-related alloimmunization and autoimmunization compromise the proper management of chronically transfused patients. Ideally, extended matched phenotyping should be implemented to prevent alloimmunization and reduce the risk of developing blood transfusion-related alloantibodies.