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Platelet alloimmunization after long‐term red cell transfusion in transfusion‐dependent thalassemia patients
Author(s) -
Lo ShyhChyi,
Chang JhySheng,
Lin Susannah WhaySue,
Lin DongTsamn
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
transfusion
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.045
H-Index - 132
eISSN - 1537-2995
pISSN - 0041-1132
DOI - 10.1111/j.1537-2995.2005.04246.x
Subject(s) - antibody , medicine , thalassemia , immunology , antigen , human leukocyte antigen , platelet , autoantibody , red blood cell , blood transfusion , isoantibodies
BACKGROUND: The platelet (PLT) alloimminization status after long‐term red cell (RBC) transfusion in thalassemia patients was investigated, including antibodies against HLA antigens and PLT‐specific glycoprotein antigens. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Blood samples from a total of 60 thalassemia patients who routinely received washed RBCs were tested for the presence of HLA antibodies and PLT‐specific glycoprotein antibodies with a commercial enzyme immunoassay kit. All patients were rescreened at a follow‐up period of 12 to 15 months. RESULTS: At the first year of study, 19 (31%) patients had HLA antibodies, 13 (22%) had HLA antibodies and PLT‐specific antibodies, and 1 (2%) had PLT‐specific antibodies. One patient showed weak reactive PLT autoantibody. The follow‐up study showed that 7 patients developed HLA antibodies, whereas 1 patient lost HLA antibody activity. Nine patients developed new PLT‐specific antibodies, yet 12 patients lost at least one of their PLT‐specific antibodies. CONCLUSION: Long‐term RBC transfusions can induce PLT alloimmunization, both to HLA antigens and to PLT‐specific antigens. The residual PLTs and white blood cells in RBC components could be the sources of immunization. In our thalassemia patients, HLA antibodies likely sustain longer than PLT‐specific antibodies.