Occurrence of Antibodies to Low-incidence Antigens Among a Cohort of Multiply Transfused Patients with Sickle Cell Disease

Data from an immunohematology reference laboratory were compiled retrospectively to determine the occurrence of the formation of alloantibodies to low-incidence antigens associated with the African American population (AA-LIAs) among patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). The AA-LIAs under study were V, VS, Js(a), and Go(a). The records from 137 recurrently transfused patients with SCD were selected on the basis of transfusion activity from the 2009 calendar year. We found that 13 patients (9.49%) exhibited one or more antibodies to AA-LIAs, and a total of 17 antibodies to these AA-LIAs have been developed by these patients. The occurrence of antibody formation to AA-LIAs is significantly greater than that of alloantibodies to low-incidence antigens in the general population. Considering the possibility of the presence of antibodies to AA-LIAs in multiply transfused patients with SCD is warranted.