Mark H Yazer1,2, Patricia A Brunker3, Suzanne Bakdash4, Aaron A R Tobian3, Darrell J Triulzi5,6, Victorea Earnest7, Samantha Harris7, Meghan Delaney8,7. 1. Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. myazer@itxm.org. 2. The Institute for Transfusion Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. myazer@itxm.org. 3. Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland. 4. Department of Clinical Pathology, The Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio. 5. Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 6. The Institute for Transfusion Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 7. Bloodworks NW, Seattle, Washington. 8. Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: By consensus definition, the red blood cells (RBCs) of patients that react weak to 2+ in the serologic D test are classified as having the serologic weak D phenotype (weak D). The risk of D alloimmunization in patients with weak D is not well studied. This study retrospectively determined the incidence of D alloimmunization in patients with weak D who received D+ blood products. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Patient records at four institutions were reviewed. Eligible patients had at least 1 D typing result with agglutination strength that was weak to 2+ result in gel or tube (Institutions 1-3) or weak to 2+ result in solid phase or a positive tube weak D test using antihuman globulin reagent (Institution 4). All patients received at least 1 D+ allogeneic RBC or platelet transfusion and had a subsequent antibody detection test performed at least 30 days after the first D+ transfusion. RESULTS: The incidence of alloanti-D formation was 0.15% (6/4011, at Institutions 1-3) and 5.1% (3/59, at Institution 4; these incidences were significantly different [p = 0.0002]). There were 0.15% (6/4011) patients who had autoanti-D detected; all were at Institutions 1 to 3. CONCLUSIONS: Until RHD genotyping is widely available, these data support the fact that patients with serologic weak D may be transfused with D+ RBCs if an urgent transfusion is required. At Institution 4, inclusion of a higher proportion of black patients compared to the other institutions may have affected the incidence of alloimmunization by perhaps including partial D recipients who are at risk of forming D antibodies.
BACKGROUND: By consensus definition, the red blood cells (RBCs) of patients that react weak to 2+ in the serologic D test are classified as having the serologic weak D phenotype (weak D). The risk of D alloimmunization in patients with weak D is not well studied. This study retrospectively determined the incidence of D alloimmunization in patients with weak D who received D+ blood products. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Patient records at four institutions were reviewed. Eligible patients had at least 1 D typing result with agglutination strength that was weak to 2+ result in gel or tube (Institutions 1-3) or weak to 2+ result in solid phase or a positive tube weak D test using antihuman globulin reagent (Institution 4). All patients received at least 1 D+ allogeneic RBC or platelet transfusion and had a subsequent antibody detection test performed at least 30 days after the first D+ transfusion. RESULTS: The incidence of alloanti-D formation was 0.15% (6/4011, at Institutions 1-3) and 5.1% (3/59, at Institution 4; these incidences were significantly different [p = 0.0002]). There were 0.15% (6/4011) patients who had autoanti-D detected; all were at Institutions 1 to 3. CONCLUSIONS: Until RHD genotyping is widely available, these data support the fact that patients with serologic weak D may be transfused with D+ RBCs if an urgent transfusion is required. At Institution 4, inclusion of a higher proportion of black patients compared to the other institutions may have affected the incidence of alloimmunization by perhaps including partial D recipients who are at risk of forming D antibodies.
Authors: Willy A Flegel; Gregory A Denomme; John T Queenan; Susan T Johnson; Margaret A Keller; Connie M Westhoff; Louis M Katz; Meghan Delaney; Ralph R Vassallo; Clayton D Simon; S Gerald Sandler Journal: Transfusion Date: 2020-03-12 Impact factor: 3.337