Identification of alloantibodies and their associations: Balance sheet of 3 years at the Regional Center of Blood Transfusion in Rabat/Morocco and difficult in transfusion management

Red blood cell immunization can lead to delays or even an impasse in a transfusion. Objectives Determine the specificities of the most common of alloantibodies and their associations to correct management of red blood cell transfused. Methods and materials A retrospective study between 2013 and 2015 in immunohematology laboratories at the Blood Transfusion Center of Rabat in Morocco. The following data were studied: frequency, specificities of alloantibodies, blood group involved in alloimmunization and difficult of management of transfusion in case with association of alloantibodies. Results Five hundred of alloantibodies were identified in 425 people (372 patients/pregnant women and 53 blood donors). The alloantibodies were directed against the following antigen: RH1 (50.8 %), RH3 (11.4 %), KEL 1 (8.2 %), RH2 (7.6 %), RH4 (4.6 %), MNS1 (4 %), MNS3 (2.6 %), Jka (2.4 %) and Fya (2.2 %). Only one alloantibody was identified in 85 % of cases. In 15 %, at least, two alloantibodies were found. The most common associations were directed against: anti-(D + C) (25), anti-(E + K) (4), anti-(E + c) (3) and anti-(D + C + E) (3). The rhesus system is the most involved in alloimmunization. Frequency of specific associations of alloantibodies was identified: Fya−/Jkb− (18.23 %), Fyb−/Jkb− (11.7 %), Jka−/S− (8.70 %), Jka−/Fyb− (5.20 %), Fyb−/s− (3.40 %) and Fyb−/Jkb−/s− (0.85 %). Conclusions Red blood cell immunization is a serious problem in transfused patients. This study proves the data of literature, the interest of using RH-Kel1 red cell units compatibles among women in age to procreate and for the transfused patients to reduce the rate of immunization. Associations of antibodies with low frequency suggest a promotion of donation.