Journal of Isfahan Medical School

Journal of Isfahan Medical School

Prevalence of Unexpected Antibodies in Thalassemia Patients in Isfahan, Iran

Document Type : Original Article(s)

Authors
Ahmad Omeiss 1
Nahid Eskandari 2
Alireza Ramazani 3
Navid Khalili Diman 4
Niloufar Rezazadegan 4
Shakiba Soltani Shirazi 4
Kowsar Mobaraki Dale 4
Zahra Asadi Samani 4
Behrooz Ghezelbash 5
1 Medical Student, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
2 Associate Professor of Medical Immunology, Department of Immunology, Applied Physiology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
3 Expert in Laboratory Sciences, Blood Transfusion, Isfahan, Iran
4 MSc Student in Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
5 Assistant Professor of Laboratory Hematology and Blood Banking, Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
10.48305/jims.v44.i862.0758
Abstract
Background: Patients with β thalassemia major, due to their lifelong reliance on blood transfusions, are at an elevated risk of alloimmunization against red blood cell antigens. The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence and pattern of red blood cell alloantibodies in transfusion dependent thalassemia patients in Isfahan, Iran.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was performed on 483 patients with β thalassemia major who were referred to the Hematology Department of Seyed al Shohada Hospital in Isfahan. Alloantibody screening and, in positive cases, antibody identification were performed using the tube method. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare mean age between sexes, and the Chi-square test was applied to compare antibody proportions between groups. A P value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Findings: Of the 483 patients evaluated, 279 (57.8%) were female and 204 (42.2%) were male. The overall prevalence of alloimmunization was estimated at 15.11%. The most frequently identified alloantibody was anti-Kell, with a frequency of 8.5%, followed by anti-D at 4.6% and anti-E at 2.1%. The prevalence of anti-D was significantly higher in females than in males (6.5% vs. 2.0%; P = 0.019).
Conclusion: Overall, the present study demonstrates a notable prevalence of RBC alloimmunization among thalassemia patients in Isfahan, with the Kell blood group system accounting for the majority of identified alloantibodies. In particular, the higher rate of anti-D immunization observed in female patients emphasizes the necessity of comprehensive antenatal care and RhD prophylaxis to mitigate potential transfusion-related complications.

Highlights

Nahid Eskandari: Google Scholar , PubMed

Behrooz Ghezelbash: Google Scholar , PubMed

Keywords
&beta
thalassemia major
Blood transfusion
Alloimmunization
Red blood cell alloantibodies
Kell blood group system
Subjects
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Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 44, Issue 862
2nd Week, July
July and August 2026
Pages 758-764

  • Receive Date 14 July 2026
  • Accept Date 25 July 2026