Direct antiglobulin test in the differential diagnosis of ABO hemolytic disease of the newborn: an important tool with high negative predictive value.

BACKGROUND: Hemolysis due to ABO incompatibility is an important differential diagnosis in newborns presenting with jaundice. Clinical studies evaluating ABO hemolytic disease of fetus and newborn (ABO-HDFN) question the diagnostic value of the direct antiglobulin test (DAT) in this situation. GOALS: To determine the clinical and laboratorial findings associated with the occurrence of ABO-HDFN and to evaluate the accuracy of DAT as a diagnostic tool. METHODS: This was a nested case control study with a cohort of 4122 newborns. Clinical and immunohematological data were retrieved from medical files including clinical and laboratorial factors associated with ABO-HDFN. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of positive DAT were calculated. RESULTS: Among the 4122 newborns, 44 had the diagnosis of ABO-HDFN. Positive DAT, group O mother and group A newborn were significantly associated with the occurrence of neonatal jaundice and this association persisted in a multivariable model (p-value <0.001). DAT presented 65.85 % sensitivity, 96.28 % specificity, 16.9 % PPV and 99.6 % NPV for the diagnosis of ABO-HDFN. There were no cases of positive DAT in cases other than O/A and O/B incompatibilities. The newborn hemoglobin was significantly lower in O/A incompatibility (p-value <0.001). CONCLUSION: Positive DAT, mother of group O and newborn of group A are independent risk factors associated with ABO-HDFN. DAT exhibited high NPV for the diagnosis of this complication. Thus, performing DAT in newborns with O/A and O/B incompatibilities is a cost-effective strategy that can be applied as routine by blood banks.

Metabolomic profile in patients with primary warm autoimmune haemolytic anaemia.

Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA) is a rare clinical condition with immunoglobulin fixation on the surface of erythrocytes, with or without complement activation. The pathophysiology of AIHA is complex and multifactorial, presenting functional abnormalities of T and B lymphocytes that generate an imbalance between lymphocyte activation, immunotolerance and cytokine production that culminates in autoimmune haemolysis. In AIHA, further laboratory data are needed to predict relapse and refractoriness of therapy, and thus, prevent adverse side-effects and treatment-induced toxicity. The metabolomic profile of AIHA has not yet been described. Our group developed a cross-sectional study with follow-up to assess the metabolomic profile in these patients, as well as to compare the metabolites found depending on the activity and intensity of haemolysis. We analysed the plasma of 26 patients with primary warm AIHA compared to 150 healthy individuals by mass spectrometry. Of the 95 metabolites found in the patients with AIHA, four acylcarnitines, two phosphatidylcholines (PC), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and three sphingomyelins were significantly increased. There was an increase in PC, spermine and spermidine in the AIHA group with haemolytic activity. The PC ae 34:3/PC ae 40:2 ratio, seen only in the 12-month relapse group, was a predictor of relapse with 81% specificity and 100% sensitivity. Increased sphingomyelin, ADMA, PC and polyamines in patients with warm AIHA can interfere in autoantigen and autoimmune recognition mechanisms in a number of ways (deficient action of regulatory T lymphocytes on erythrocyte recognition as self, negative regulation of macrophage nuclear factor kappa beta activity, perpetuation of effector T lymphocyte and antibody production against erythrocyte antigens). The presence of PC ae 34:3/PC ae 40:2 ratio as a relapse predictor can help in identifying cases that require more frequent follow-up or early second-line therapies.

Serological and Molecular Study of the Duffy Blood Group among Malarial Endemic Region Residents in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: The atypical chemokine receptor 1 (ACKR1) gene encodes the Duffy blood group antigens in two allelic forms: FY*A (FY*01) and FY*B (FY*02), which define the Fy(a+b-), Fy(a-b+), and Fy(a+b+) phenotypes. FY*BES (FY*02N.01) is a single T to C substitution at nucleotide -67 that prevents the FY*B from being expressed in red blood cells (RBCs). METHODS: We evaluated 250 residents from a Brazilian malarial endemic region (RsMR). All individuals were phenotyped for Fya and Fyb antigens and genotyped for FY*A, FY*B, FY*B SE , and FY*B weak alleles. RESULTS: Among the 250 individuals, 209 (83.6%) reported previous malaria infection, and 41 (16.4%) did not. The Fy(a+b+) phenotype was present in 97/250 (38.8%), while the Fy(a-b-) was present in 7/250 (2.8%). The FY*A/FY*B was found in 130/250 (52%) and the FY*A/FY*A in 45/250 (18%). The c.1-67>TC was present, in homozygosity, in 11/250 (4.4%). Among 34 individuals with the Fy(a+b-) and FYA*/FYB* mutations, 4/34 (11.8%) had homozygosity for the c.1-67T>C. One individual presented the Fy(a+b-), FY*A/FY*B, and c.1-67T>C in homozygosis, whereas the other presented the Fy(a+b-), FY*A/FY*A, and c.1-67T>C in heterozygosis. CONCLUSIONS: We reported a low prevalence of the Fy(a-b-) in persons who had previously been infected with Plasmodium vivax (67.5%). We observed that 102/141 (72.3%) individuals expressing the Fyb antigen had a P. vivax infection, indicating the importance of the Fyb antigen, silenced by a c.1-67T>C mutation in homozygosis, in preventing the P. vivax infection. We showed that the c.1-67T>C mutation in the FY*A did not silence the FY*A expression on RBCs.

Impact of HLA-G +3142C>G on the development of antibodies to blood group systems other than the Rh and Kell among sensitized patients with sickle cell disease.

BACKGROUND: Patients' inflammatory history is an important factor underlying red blood cell (RBC) alloimmunization, which is a frequent transfusion complication among individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD). HLA-G has been associated with different inflammatory and auto - immune diseases. Our goal was to verify whether the HLA-G + 3142 C>G and 14-bp Ins/Del variations are associated with RBC antibody development among SCD patients. METHODS: This was a single-center case-control study. SCD patients were randomly selected for the study and divided into two groups: 'Alloimmunized' and 'Nonalloimmunized' depending on the presence of irregular antibodies. The 'Alloimmunized'group was further divided into two subgroups according to the presence of only antibodies against the Rh and Kell blood group systems or the existence of antibodies to antigens of the other blood group systems. RESULTS: A total of 213 patients were included in the study (110 alloimmunized and 103 non-alloimmunized). The 'Alloimmunized' and 'Non-alloimmunized' groups did not differ statistically regarding the HLA-G + 14 bp Ins/Del ( p = 0.494) and + 3142 C>G ( p = 0.334). Individuals who had only antibodies against the Rh and Kell antigens had a frequency of HLA-G + 3142GG genotype almost twice as high compared to the groupwith antibodies against less immunogenic antigens ( p = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: The genotype frequency of HLA-G + 3142 C>G differs among alloimmunized SCD patients, depending on the presence of antibodies against low immunogenic RBC antigens. This highlights a possible role played by the HLA-G molecule in the RBC alloimmunization process.

High-Dose Convalescent Plasma for Treatment of Severe COVID-19.

To assess whether high-dose coronavirus disease (COVID-19) convalescent plasma (CCP) transfusion may benefit patients with severe COVID-19, we conducted a multicenter randomized trial in Brazil. Patients with severe COVID-19 who were within 10 days of initial symptom onset were eligible. Patients in the CCP group received 3 daily doses of CCP (600 mL/d) in addition to standard treatment; control patients received standard treatment only. Primary outcomes were death rates at days 30 and 60 of study randomization. Secondary outcomes were ventilator-free days and hospital-free days. We enrolled 107 patients: 36 CCP and 71 control. At day 30, death rates were 22% for CCP and 25% for the control group; at day 60, rates were 31% for CCP and 35% for control. Needs for invasive mechanical ventilation and durations of hospital stay were similar between groups. We conclude that high-dose CCP transfused within 10 days of symptom onset provided no benefit for patients with severe COVID-19.

Serological and Molecular Study of the Duffy Blood Group among Malarial Endemic Region Residents in Brazil

ABSTRACT Background: The atypical chemokine receptor 1 (ACKR1) gene encodes the Duffy blood group antigens in two allelic forms: FY*A (FY*01) and FY*B (FY*02), which define the Fy(a+b-), Fy(a-b+), and Fy(a+b+) phenotypes. FY*BES (FY*02N.01) is a single T to C substitution at nucleotide -67 that prevents the FY*B from being expressed in red blood cells (RBCs). Methods: We evaluated 250 residents from a Brazilian malarial endemic region (RsMR). All individuals were phenotyped for Fya and Fyb antigens and genotyped for FY*A, FY*B, FY*B SE , and FY*B weak alleles. Results: Among the 250 individuals, 209 (83.6%) reported previous malaria infection, and 41 (16.4%) did not. The Fy(a+b+) phenotype was present in 97/250 (38.8%), while the Fy(a-b-) was present in 7/250 (2.8%). The FY*A/FY*B was found in 130/250 (52%) and the FY*A/FY*A in 45/250 (18%). The c.1-67>TC was present, in homozygosity, in 11/250 (4.4%). Among 34 individuals with the Fy(a+b-) and FYA*/FYB* mutations, 4/34 (11.8%) had homozygosity for the c.1-67T>C. One individual presented the Fy(a+b-), FY*A/FY*B, and c.1-67T>C in homozygosis, whereas the other presented the Fy(a+b-), FY*A/FY*A, and c.1-67T>C in heterozygosis. Conclusions: We reported a low prevalence of the Fy(a-b-) in persons who had previously been infected with Plasmodium vivax (67.5%). We observed that 102/141 (72.3%) individuals expressing the Fyb antigen had a P. vivax infection, indicating the importance of the Fyb antigen, silenced by a c.1-67T>C mutation in homozygosis, in preventing the P. vivax infection. We showed that the c.1-67T>C mutation in the FY*A did not silence the FY*A expression on RBCs.

Chagas disease: Performance analysis of immunodiagnostic tests anti-Trypanosoma cruzi in blood donors with inconclusive screening results

ABSTRACT Background: The screening of Trypanosoma cruzi-infected blood donors using two serological techniques frequently leads to conflicting results. This fact prompted us to evaluate the diagnostic performance of four "in-house" immunodiagnostic tests and two commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Material and Methods: One hundred and seventy-nine blood donors, whose screening for Chagas disease was doubtful, underwent three in-house ELISAs, one in-house immunoblotting test (TESA-blot), and two commercial ELISAs (bioMérieux and Wiener) in an attempt to define the presence or absence of infection. Simultaneously, 29 donors with previous positive results from three conventional serological tests and 30 donors with constant negative results were evaluated. Results: The ELISA-Wiener showed the highest rate in sensitivity (98.92%) and the ELISA-bioMérieux, the highest specificity (99.45%), followed by the TESA-blot, which showed superior performance, with lower false-negative (2.18%) and false-positive (1.12%) rates. In series, the combination composed of the TESA-blot and ELISA-bioMérieux showed slightly superior performance, with trifunctional protein deficiency (TFP) = 0.01%. Conclusion: Our study confirms the high sensitivity and specificity of commercial kits. To confirm the presence or absence of T. cruzi infection, the combination of TESA-blot and ELISA-bioMérieux may be suggested as the best alternative. Individually, the TESA-blot performed the closest to the gold standard; however, it is not commercially available.

Implications of perioperative allogeneic red blood cell transfusion on the immune-inflammatory response

ABSTRACT Background: The allogeneic transfusion-related immunomodulation (TRIM) may be responsible for an increase in survival of renal transplants but in contrast it could increase the rate of bacterial infections or the recurrence rate of tumors post-operatively. Objective: This review focuses in the implications of perioperative allogeneic transfusions on the immune-inflammatory response of surgical transfused patients. Results: ABTs modify immune functions in recipients including decrease of the number of lymphocytes; decrease the CD4 cells; decrease the CD4/CD8 T-cell ratio; decrease NK cells; and decrease the lymphocyte response to mitogens. TRIM effects may be mediated by allogeneic white cells present in blood products; soluble peptides present in transfused plasma; and/or biologic mediators released into the supernatant of blood units. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis including 36 clinical observational studies (n = 174,036) concluded that perioperative ABTs not only decreased overall survival and reduced colorectal cancer-specific survival. Furthermore ABTs increased the rate of infectious, cardiac, pulmonary and anastomotic complications in colorectal cancer patients undergoing surgery. Conclusions: It has been demonstrated by laboratory tests that TRIM is associated with transfusion recipient immune alterations but its influence in colorectal cancer recurrence after resection remains controversial though may exist. Surgical techniques reducing intraoperative blood loss have limited the number of ABTs perioperatively, however increase in mortality continues to be reported in literature after ABT in colorectal cancer surgery. Poor survival associated to TRIM in colorectal cancer might be due to higher number of allogeneic transfused units and/or prolonged length of blood storage.

Serologic and molecular studies to identify neonatal alloimmune neutropenia in a cohort of 10,000 neonates.

Neonatal alloimmune neutropenia (NAIN) is caused by maternal alloimmunisation to fetal human neutrophil antigens (HNAs). This study investigated maternal HNA/HLA alloantibodies involved with NAIN and identified the frequency of NAIN in Brazilian neonates. Neonatal neutropenia (neutrophil count < 1.5 × 109 /L) was investigated in samples from 10,000 unselected neonates, resulting in 88 neutropenic newborns (NBs) and their 83 mothers. Genotyping was performed by PCR-SSP (HNA-1/-4) and PCR-RFLP (HNA-3/-5). Serologic studies were performed by GAT (granulocyte agglutination test), Flow-WIFT (white blood cells immunofluorescence test) and LABScreen-Multi-HNA-Kit (OneLambda®) (LSM). Neonatal neutropenia was identified in 88/10,000 (0·9%) NBs. Genotyping revealed 60·2% maternal-fetal HNA incompatibilities (31·8% for HNA-1; 14·8% for HNA-3; 15·9% for HNA-4; 21·6% for HNA-5). Serologic studies revealed 37·3% of mothers with positive results with at least one technique. The detected anti-HNA specificities were confirmed in eight positive cases related to HNA-1/-3 systems. In cases with maternal-fetal HNA-4/-5 incompatibility, no specific neutrophil alloantibodies were found but anti-HLA I/II were present. Anti-HNA-2 was not identified. This is a large Brazilian study which involved the investigation of antibodies against all five HNA systems in neutropenia cases and showed a frequency of NAIN in 8/10,000 neonates. Among the HNA antibodies identified, we highlight the anti-HNA-1d and anti-HNA-3b, antibodies unusual in alloimmunised women, and rarely related to NAIN cases.

Antibodies against human neutrophil antigens in non-transfused women with red blood cell alloimmunisation induced by pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Alloantibodies against human neutrophil antigens (HNA) resulting from allogeneic exposure may be associated with transfusion-related acute lung injury and immune neutropenia. Understanding the risk factors for the formation of such antibodies could have a great impact on the adoption of measures to prevent potentially fatal transfusion reactions. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of anti-HNA alloantibodies in non-transfused pregnant women with and without red blood cell (RBC) alloantibodies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HNA alloantibodies were investigated in blood samples from 147 pregnant women with RBC alloimmunisation induced by pregnancy as the only allogeneic stimulus (group 1). The control group (group 2) consisted of 563 women with at least one pregnancy without RBC alloimmunisation. Both groups were investigated for the presence and identity of HNA alloantibodies using granulocyte agglutination tests, white blood cell immunofluorescence testing, and the bead-based LABScreen Multi Kit. Genotyping was performed to confirm the specificity of the HNA alloantibodies. RESULTS: Group 1 women had a statistically higher number of HNA alloantibodies compared to group 2 women (9/147 [6.1%] vs 9/563 [1.6%]; p=0.005, OR=4.01; 95% CI 1.5-10.3). Considering only multiparous women, there was a higher statistical significance for the difference in the presence of HNA alloantibodies between the two groups (7/82 [8.5%] vs 9/493 [1.8%]; p=0.002, OR=5.02; 95% CI 1.8-13.9). DISCUSSION: Our data show that RBC alloimmunisation is significantly associated with the development of anti-HNA alloantibodies, corroborating the hypothesis that some individuals are better immune responders and react strongly to allogeneic exposure. The presence of RBC alloantibodies can, therefore, facilitate the identification of individuals with a higher risk of alloimmunisation to antigens from other cells, also acting as a tool to avoid potentially fatal transfusion reactions.

Implications of perioperative allogeneic red blood cell transfusion on the immune-inflammatory response.

BACKGROUND: The allogeneic transfusion-related immunomodulation (TRIM) may be responsible for an increase in survival of renal transplants but in contrast it could increase the rate of bacterial infections or the recurrence rate of tumors post-operatively. OBJECTIVE: This review focuses in the implications of perioperative allogeneic transfusions on the immune-inflammatory response of surgical transfused patients. RESULTS: ABTs modify immune functions in recipients including decrease of the number of lymphocytes; decrease the CD4 cells; decrease the CD4/CD8 T-cell ratio; decrease NK cells; and decrease the lymphocyte response to mitogens. TRIM effects may be mediated by allogeneic white cells present in blood products; soluble peptides present in transfused plasma; and/or biologic mediators released into the supernatant of blood units. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis including 36 clinical observational studies (n=174,036) concluded that perioperative ABTs not only decreased overall survival and reduced colorectal cancer-specific survival. Furthermore ABTs increased the rate of infectious, cardiac, pulmonary and anastomotic complications in colorectal cancer patients undergoing surgery. CONCLUSIONS: It has been demonstrated by laboratory tests that TRIM is associated with transfusion recipient immune alterations but its influence in colorectal cancer recurrence after resection remains controversial though may exist. Surgical techniques reducing intraoperative blood loss have limited the number of ABTs perioperatively, however increase in mortality continues to be reported in literature after ABT in colorectal cancer surgery. Poor survival associated to TRIM in colorectal cancer might be due to higher number of allogeneic transfused units and/or prolonged length of blood storage.

Chagas disease: Performance analysis of immunodiagnostic tests anti-Trypanosoma cruzi in blood donors with inconclusive screening results.

BACKGROUND: The screening ofTrypanosoma cruzi-infected blood donors using two serological techniques frequently leads to conflicting results. This fact prompted us to evaluate the diagnostic performance of four "in-house" immunodiagnostic tests and two commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred and seventy-nine blood donors, whose screening for Chagas disease was doubtful, underwent three in-house ELISAs, one in-house immunoblotting test (TESA-blot), and two commercial ELISAs (bioMérieux and Wiener) in an attempt to define the presence or absence of infection. Simultaneously, 29 donors with previous positive results from three conventional serological tests and 30 donors with constant negative results were evaluated. RESULTS: The ELISA-Wiener showed the highest rate in sensitivity (98.92%) and the ELISA-bioMérieux, the highest specificity (99.45%), followed by the TESA-blot, which showed superior performance, with lower false-negative (2.18%) and false-positive (1.12%) rates. In series, the combination composed of the TESA-blot and ELISA-bioMérieux showed slightly superior performance, with trifunctional protein deficiency (TFP)=0.01%. CONCLUSION: Our study confirms the high sensitivity and specificity of commercial kits. To confirm the presence or absence of T. cruzi infection, the combination of TESA-blot and ELISA-bioMérieux may be suggested as the best alternative. Individually, the TESA-blot performed the closest to the gold standard; however, it is not commercially available.

RHD and RHCE molecular analysis in weak D blood donors and in patients with Rh antibodies against their own corresponding Rh antigen.

BACKGROUND: The Rh system is the largest and most polymorphic blood group system. The existence of a large number of RH alleles results in variant phenotypes that often complicate blood donor phenotyping and the distinction between auto- and allo-antibodies in recipients who have anti-Rh antibodies in the presence of their own corresponding Rh antigen. Knowledge of these variants is necessary in order to make blood transfusion safer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Samples from 48 blood donors with serological weak D and from 29 patients who had anti-Rh antibody in the presence of their own corresponding Rh antigen were evaluated molecularly for RHD and RHCE alleles using a blood-multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification assay and Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: Rh variants were found in 45 of the 48 blood donors: 24/45 (53%) were weak D, 2/45 (4%) partial D and 19/45 (42%) were weak and partial D. The remaining three donors (6%) did not show a mutation in the RHD allele. Among the 29 patients, 13/29 had anti-e, of whom 4/13 had genotypes that predicted a partial e antigen; 11/29 had anti-D, with 6/11 being identified as partial D; 2/29 had anti-c, of whom 1/2 was predicted to express partial c antigen; 4/29 who had anti-E and 4/29 who had anti-C did not show mutations in RHCE*C or RHCE*E. DISCUSSION: It was possible to find individuals with clinically significant Rh phenotypes due to the weak reactivity of the D antigen, detected through serological tests in blood donors. In patients, when found with the anti-Rh antibody in the presence of the same Rh antigen, it is difficult to distinguish an auto-antibody from an allo-antibody by serological tests; in these cases, molecular methods (genotyping) can help us to determine whether there are changes in the RH alleles and to discover the nature of the antibody (allo or auto).

Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura Related to COVID-19.

Since December 2019, a newly identified coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread in China and the rest of world. There are many doubts regarding pathogenesis as well complications due to COVID-19. We report a case with association between thrombocytopenia and the new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection after exclusion of other possible etiology in a patient with previous controlled idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Molecular matching for patients with haematological diseases expressing altered RHD-RHCE genotypes.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The high homology and the inverted orientation of RHD and RHCE may give rise to non-functional and aberrant RH alleles. RH genotyping is used to screen RH matched donors to African descent patients. This study aimed to define a strategy for testing RHD and RHCE variants in blood donors to provide compatible units for transfusion of patients with haematological diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Samples from 132 patients [101 Sickle cell disease (SCD), 14 myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), 17 acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML)] and 198 Brazilian donors were studied. Major blood group alleles, RHD, RHCE alleles and RHD zygosity were determined by the blood-MLPA assay. Sequencing was performed to determine RHD and RHCE variant subtypes. A match was an RH genotype that did not encode Rh antigens absent in the patient, along with matching for ABO, MNS, KEL, FY, JK and DI antigens. RESULTS: Overall, 7·6% of blood donors and 17.4% of patients presented RH genotypes that predict expression of partial Rh antigens or lack of high prevalence Rh antigens. From 23 patients with clinically relevant RH genotypes, 15 had available matched donors. CONCLUSION: We report the presence of clinically relevant RH genotypes in SCD and in non-SCD patients. In our admixed population, many patients carry variant RHCE alleles in heterozygosity with normal RHCE alleles. Thus, our results suggest that donors could be selected based on the normal RH allele.

Molecular study of Cw /Cx antigens and frequency of Rh phenotypes in southeast Brazilian blood donors.

BACKGROUND: The Cw (RH:8), Cx (RH:9), and MAR (RH:51) antigens are encoded by alleles at the Cc locus of the Rh system, where Cw and Cx are considered low-frequency antigens and antithetical to the high-frequency antigen MAR. The frequency of Cw (RH:8) is approximately 2% in Caucasians, 1% in Black people, 4% in Finns, and 9% in Latvians. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of RhD+ phenotypes in a population of southeast Brazilian blood donors and to perform a molecular study to distinguish the RHCE*Ce.08.01 and RHCE*Ce.09 alleles, responsible for the Cw and Cx expressions, respectively. METHODS: We investigated 11,536 RhD+ Brazilian blood donors. All samples were phenotyped for D, C, c, E, e, and Cw . In the Cw + samples, a molecular analysis was performed to detect the nucleotide substitutions A122G and G106A, which determine the Cw and Cx antigens, respectively. RESULTS: Cw antigen was found in 110 (0.95%) samples in the following phenotypes: DCw e/dCw e (72/0.62%), DCw e/DCw e (30/0.26%), and DCw e/DCw E (8/0.07%). Among 110 Cw + samples, 108 showed the A122G nucleotide substitution associated with RHCE*Ce.08.01 allele and 2 samples the G106A substitution associated with the RHCE*Ce.09.01 allele. CONCLUSION: This study showed the prevalence of the RhD+ phenotype in the Brazilian population, and that through the molecular study, it was possible to differentiate the RHCE*Ce.08.01 and RHCE*Ce.09.01 alleles. The phenotype frequency was similar from Black people (1%) and different from Caucasians, Finns, and Latvians.

Antibodies to human neutrophil antigen HNA-3b implicated in cases of neonatal alloimmune neutropenia.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal alloimmune neutropenia results from maternal alloimmunization to human neutrophil antigens. The alloantibodies involved in neonatal alloimmune neutropenia are against human neutrophil antigens HNA-1a, HNA-1b, HNA-1c, HNA-1d, HNA-2, HNA-3a, HNA-4a, HNA-4b, and HNA-5a; however, to date, antibodies specific to HNA-3b have not been reported. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Blood samples from 10,000 unselected neonates were analyzed, resulting in the selection of 88 neutropenic newborns (neutrophil count <1.5 × 109 /L) from 83 mothers (three pairs of twins and one triplet). HNA-3 genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism to identify the cases of maternal-fetal HNA-3 incompatibility. Serologic studies for detecting maternal HNA-3 alloantibodies were performed with the granulocyte agglutination test, the white blood cell immunofluorescence test, and a LABScreen Multi-HNA Kit. RESULTS: Genotyping studies identified 13 of 88 (14.8%) instances of maternal-fetal HNA-3 incompatibility, with all mothers typed as HNA-3a/a and neonates typed as HNA-3a/b. Serologic studies revealed that five of 13 (38.5%) mothers carried anti-HNA-3b plus human leukocyte antigen antibodies and that three of 13 (23.1%) mothers had anti-HNA-3b without human leukocyte antigen antibodies. CONCLUSION: Here, we report the first three cases of neonatal alloimmune neutropenia associated with HNA-3b antibodies resulting in a neonatal alloimmune neutropenia incidence of one in 3333 live births.