Rare Blood for Patients with Sickle Cell Anemia

Red blood cell alloimmunization among sickle cell Kuwaiti Arab patients who received red blood cell transfusion

“…Sickle cell patients are already the most common recipient of units from the American Rare Donor Program, accounting for 20% of the total units shipped 23 . This increase in demand has occurred because of the presence of patients with multiple common RBC alloantibodies, rather than because of an increase in rare alloantibodies.…”

“…Sickle cell patients are already the most common recipient of units from the American Rare Donor Program, accounting for 20% of the total units shipped. 23 This increase in demand has occurred because of the presence of patients with multiple common RBC alloantibodies, rather than because of an increase in rare alloantibodies. The expanding indications for preventive transfusion therapy will continue to increase this problem; 7 however, most donors to the American Rare Donor Program are most likely of European-Caucasian and/or Black-African descent, which would decrease the chance of phenotypic compatibility with a Kuwaiti Arab recipient.…”

A Decade of Rare Donor Services in the United States

“…First, many persons with sickle disease cell are chronically trans fused and 15-30% become alloimmunized to one or more red cell antigens in the course of lifelong transfusion ther apy [15][16][17][18]. Second, the specific phenotypes that are re quired, such as Fy(a-b-), Js(b-) or U-, are found almost exclusively in persons of Black African ancestry [5][6][7][8][9], When rare blood with these phenotypes is required in combination with other phenotypes that are uncommon in Black populations, such as Rh-negative or Jk(a-). the composite phenotype is exceedingly rare.…”

“…These rare blood phenotypes often involve Fy(a-b-), Js(b-), or U-. alone or in combination, which are found almost exclusively in persons of Black African ancestry [4][5][6][7][8][9].…”

The Black Man

“…Generally patients with sickle-cell anemia receive blood from White donors because this blood is more readily available (Ambruso, Githens, & Alcom, 1987;Patten et al, 1989). In Galveston, Texas, for example, 98% of donors are White, and in Washington, DC, 88% are White (Luban, 1989;Mallory, Malamut, & Ginther, 1989). Blacks account for a &dquo;disproportionately small part of the donor population&dquo; (Vichinsky et al, 1990(Vichinsky et al, , p. 1620.…”