[Incidence and characterization of erythrocyte antibodies in a hospital blood bank. Study over a period of 9 years (1980-1988)].

Serological studies done in 21,124 patients receiving blood transfusions and in 85,202 units of blood, during a period of 9 years in a 750-bed University Hospital, are presented. 311 out of 21,124 blood transfusion recipients developed warm type alloantibodies, equivalent to an 1.4% incidence. 178 out of 85,202 blood units were found positive for the same kind of antibodies, thus giving a frequency of 0.2%. The most common warm alloantibodies were: anti-Rho (D) alone or in combination, 54%; anti-K 20%, anti-rh" (E) 14% and anti-Fya 5.3%. Warm alloantibodies occurred more frequently in patients that in donors, and more in women that in men, as already reported from other laboratories. Cold alloantibodies were detected in 0.83% of transfused patients and 0.19% of blood units. Their specificities were: anti-P1 44%, anti-Leb 16.2%, anti-Lea 5.9% and anti-M 3.5%. Cold alloantibodies appeared with the same frequency in patients as in donors, and more often in women that in men. 38.5% of all the antibodies found were autoanti-I or cold non-specific; they occurred much more frequently in patients, without any significant difference between both sexes.