International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-7802112017122018591859ENBlood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran & Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, H1, Division of Family Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, HuddingeDepartment of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, H1, Division of Family Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, HuddingeBlood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, TehranBlood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, TehranGuilan Road Trauma Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht20171220<p><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Background</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">Development of alloantibodies against the foreign red blood cell (RBC) (alloimmunization) is a well‑known complication in thalassemia patients when performing multiple transfusions. The study was conducted to know the prevalence of alloimmunization in thalassemia patients, in the Caspian Sea coastline. </span></p><p><strong></strong><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Methods</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">This study is a descriptive, retrospective analysis of transfusion records of 190 patients with </span><span class="fontstyle3">&beta;</span><span class="fontstyle2">‑thalassemia major who received regular transfusions. To detect the type of alloantibodies, two cells panel tests (kits; Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization [IBTO], 3 RBC cells and IBTO, 11 RBC cells) were used. </span></p><p><strong></strong><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Results</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">Forty‑seven patients were positive for alloantibodies (24.7%). Of them, 18.4% (35 cases) had only one alloantibody, and 6.3% (12 cases) had at least two or more of alloantibodies. The vast majority of alloantibodies were anti‑Kell followed by anti‑E, and anti‑D, respectively. </span></p><p><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Conclusions</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">Blood matching for Rh and K antigens in patients with transfusion‑dependent thalassemia could reduce the rate of RBC alloinununization.</span></p><p><span class="fontstyle2"><br /></span><span class="fontstyle0" style="color: #00652e;"><strong>Keywords</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle4">Alloantibody, blood transfusion, Iran, thalassemia</span> <br style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /></p>http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/1859http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/1859/2146