Soonchunhyang Med Sci.  2018 Jun;24(1):99-100. 10.0000/sms.2018.24.1.99.

A Case of Packed red Cell Transfusion-Associated Anti-K Antibody

• Kim B

• KMID: 2437777
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/sms.2018.24.1.99

Abstract

Anti-K alloantibody is a type of red blood cell (RBC) antibody which is generated through immunization. It is well noted that the anti-K antibody causes hemolytic transfusion reactions. Although Koreans generally do not have the K antigen on RBCs, we report a rare case of transfusion-related anti-K antibody in Korean patient. Just twelve pints of packed RBCs had been transfused to the patient before the anti-K was identified for the first time, but the donor information about Kell phenotype (K or k) was not available. The anti-K had been continuously detected, and the patient neither received immunoglobulins nor experienced bacterial infections which could generate anti-K antibody. Therefore we believe that her anti-K is the truly positive, previously transfused packed RBCs-related alloantibody. The packed RBCs transfused to our patient were likely to be donated from other races. The pre-transfusion irregular antibody detection test should be performed carefully to detect very rare RBC alloantibodies.

Keyword

Anti-K; Transfusion; Kell blood-group system; Red cell alloantibodies

MeSH Terms

Bacterial Infections
Continental Population Groups
Erythrocytes
Humans
Immunization
Immunoglobulins
Isoantibodies
Kell Blood-Group System
Phenotype
Tissue Donors
Transfusion Reaction
Immunoglobulins
Isoantibodies
Kell Blood-Group System