The treatment of patients with sickle cell disease frequently requires transfusion of red blood cells. Complications due to alloimmunization of red blood cells antigen remain a major risk as a post transfusion effect. The objective of this study is to determine the frequency of red cell alloimmunization in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A retrospective cross-section study of sickle cell disease patients at King Abdulaziz University Hospital between 2012 and 2013 was performed. Demographic characteristics and transfusion history was recorded. Blood samples were analyzed for alloimmunization using immunohematological technique. A total of 234 sickle cell patients were analyzed, of which 30 (12.8%) showed alloantibodies. A total of 43 alloantibodies were found out of which 28 belonged to Rh group, eight belonged to Kell while three belonged to MNS group. Demographic and transfusion characteristics were analyzed between alloimmunized and nonalloimmunized sickle cell disease patients. The rate of alloimmunization in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia was 12.8%. There was significant difference observed between alloantibodies detection between transfused patients compared to non-transfused patients. The consequences of red blood cell alloimmunization are highly significant and therefore immune hematological testing is highly recommended.

The aim of the study is to assess the alloimmunization rate to red blood cell in thalassemia patients at King Abdulaziz University Hospital. Thalassemia is the most common genetic disorder worldwide that represents a major public health problem and requires long life blood transfusion to the patients as the main treatment. Alloimmunization to the transfused red blood cell can cause hemolytic transfusion reactions and significantly complicate transfusion therapy. Screening and identification of alloantibodies and transfusion of extended phenotyped blood can minimize these risks. A retrospective study was conducted on 134 thalassemia patients at King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Jeddah. Patients’ samples were subjected to red cell typing, antibody screening and identifi cation of red blood cell antibodies. Alloimmunization in thalassemia patients was 20.15%; antibodies were mainly to the Rh and Kell blood group systems, the highest rate was for anti-E (32.4%) followed by anti-K (21.6%). Alloimmunization rate was the highest in the age group from > 10 – 20 years (40.7%). Red cell alloimmunization is a frequent event among thalassemia patient. A national protocol for screening and identifying of the red cell alloantibodies and transfusion of phenotype blood is required for proper management of these patients.

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