Distribution of Some Clinically Significant Blood Group Antigens Amongst Blood Donors at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, Anambra State Nigeria- A Pilot Study

Background: Red cell alloimmunization poses a challenge in multiply transfused patients, especially in the developing countries, where blood transfusion medicine is still at its rudimentary stages. This leads to blood transfusion reactions and suboptimal improvement of hemoglobin concentration following blood transfusion. Understudying the distribution of the clinically significant red cell antigens amongst blood donors may give an insight for mitigating blood transfusion reactions in the multiply transfused patients. Aim: To determine the distribution of some clinically significant red cell antigens in blood donors so as to aid development of local red cell panels for antibody screening of multiply transfused patients. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study where consenting blood group O donors were recruited and their red cells tested for K, C,c,E,e,JKa,JKb,Fya following the manufacturers’ protocol (QUOTIENT). AHG was used for testing for FYa antigen. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize demographic characteristics. P value of < 0.05 was statistically significant. Results: A total of 68 donors were recruited for the study. Majority were males 60 (88.2%) and 44 (64.7%) were less than 30 years of age. The most prevalent red cell antigen was c (100%), followed by e 67 (98.5%). About a quarter had C 18 (26.5%) and E 17 (25.0%), while only 2(2.9%) donors had Fya. None of the donors had KEL1, JKa,and JKb antigens. There was no statistically significant association between gender and red cell antigen distribution. Conclusion: This study shows a varied distribution of clinically significant red cell antigens in blood donors in Nigeria. There is need for more broad based and extensive red cell phenotyping studies to boost the information on red blood cell antigen expression obtained from this study. This will help in developing a local reagent red cell panel for antibody screening and identification especially for these multiply transfused patients, hence reducing hemolytic blood transfusion reactions by ensuring these patients are given appropriately matched blood.