Background: Alloantibodies to red cell antigens may cause acute or delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions (DHTRs). In most cases, however, anamnestic antibody production causes only a delayed serological transfusion reaction (DSTR). According to the previous reports, alloimmunization occured with a risk of 1-2.6%, however, no prospective studies on a DSTR have been performed in Korea. The purpose of this study was to evaluate prospectively the frequency of alloimmunization and its clinical significance in Korean population.
Methods: Antibody screening tests were performed for a total of 1,903 patients who were transfused with packed RBCs from May 2003 through July 2004. One blood sample from each patient was collected within 7-10 day after transfusion and screened for serological evidence of alloimmunization. If any antibody was detected the patient’s post-transfusion sample was screened for biochemical evidence of hemolysis and the patients’ medical records were reviewed for documentation of clinical signs of a transfusion reaction.
Results: Overall, 17/1,903 patients became alloimmunized for a frequency of 0.89%. Only one of 1,903 patients had clinical evidence of hemolysis, and the frequency of DHTR was 0.053%. Interestingly, anti-Dia which was characteristic antibody in Asian-Mongoloid populations was detected in three patients, and anti-Mia was found in one patient.
Conclusion: This study showed lower frequency of DSTR and DHTR, compared with previous studies in Caucasian. However, it is noteworthy that the incidence of anti-Dia was relatively higher in Korean population.
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