Background. Beta-Thalassemia is a common inherited hemolytic disorder in Palestine. Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is the principal\ntreatment but it may cause RBC alloimmunization. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and characteristics of\nRBC alloimmunization among thalassemic patients in northern governorates of Palestine. Methods. A prospective multicenter\nobservational study was conducted in the thalassemia transfusion centers in the northern governorates of Palestine. The study\nincluded 215 thalassemia patients who received regular blood transfusions. Clinical and transfusion records of patients were\nexamined. Antibody screening and identification was conducted using the microcolum gel technique. Results. Two hundred fifteen\npatients were included in the study. More than half (52.1%) of the patients were males. The median age of patients was 18 years\n(range: 12â??24 years). The most frequent blood group was A (40.5%). Alloantibodies were detected in 12.6% of patients. Anti-D\n(33.3%), anti-K (25.9%) and anti-E (14.8%) were the most commonly isolated antibodies. There was no association between age,\nsex, starting age of transfusion, number of transfused units, history of splenectomy and alloimmunization. Conclusions. Anti-Rh\nand anti-K antibodies were common among this cohort of patients. Age, sex, starting age of transfusion, number of transfused units,\nand history of splenectomy could not predict the occurrence of alloimmunization.
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