Red blood cell alloimmunization in transfused women

In order to evaluate the incidence of delayed RBC alloimmunization in the population of 18 to 50- year old transfused women, all adverse transfusion reaction reports from all hospitals of the Rhone-Alpes area collected during a period of 3 years were studied. The specificity of the RBC antibodies, the blood product involved and the imputability were considered. From January 1st 2010 to December 31st 2012, 8,953 women (age range 18 to 50) were transfused. Thirty-one delayed RBC alloimmunization reports were notified in 30 female patients. In the other cases of alloimmunization, the antibodies were not caused by antigens of the Rhesus or Kell systems (antigens C, E, c, e and K); the most common antibodies were anti-S and anti-Kpa which occurred in 7 cases each. The blood components involved were RBC concentrates in 28 cases (90.3%), apheresis platelet concentrate in one case and pooled platelet concentrates in two cases. Three cases of RBC alloimmunization were detected after transfusion of platelet concentrates: anti-Jka (one case), anti-DAU5 (one case) with two pooled platelet concentrates and anti-E (one case) with one apheresis platelet concentrate.