Alloimmunization in Egyptian Children with Sickle Cell Disease

Abstract

Transfusion is critical in the management of sickle cell disease (SCD) complications. The resultant alloimmunization to RBC group antigens is a major complication of allogeneic blood transfusion and generally presents significant challenges in the management of SCD patients. Our objective was to measure the frequency of the occurrence of the alloimmune markers in sickle cell disease and to investigate its predicators. The study included fifty children and young adults with SCD, their mean age were 13.5 ± 2.81 years, 31 were males (62.0%) and 19 were females (38.0%). Sickle SS was the most common type of sickle cell disease representing more than half of the recruited patients.