Cc. So et al., Alloimmunization in Chinese with warm autoimmune haemolytic anaemia - incidence and characteristics, TRANSFUS M, 10(2), 2000, pp. 141-143
We perform a retrospective study to determine the incidence and characteris
tics of alloimmunization in Chinese patients with warm autoimmune haemolyti
c anaemia. Among 67 patients studied, clinically significant alloantibodies
were found in only eight patients, giving a rate of alloimmunization of 11
.3%. The latter contrasts with the much higher rate reported in the Western
population. This probably reflects the genetic homogeneity in Chinese with
respect to the red cell phenotype. The alloimmunization rate, however, is
still significant and therefore comprehensive pretransfusion testing is req
uired for Chinese patients with warm autoantibodies so as to safeguard pati
ent's safety.