November 2013 Vol. 1 No. 1

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Full Length Research Paper

Frequency of red blood cells Allo-Antibodies among Sudanese multi-parous females in Khartoum State

Afra Hammad Mohammad¹ and Sana Eltahir Abdalla²*

¹Sudan University, Faculty of Laboratory Sciences.
²AL-Neelain Medical Research Centre, Al Neelain University, Khartoum Sudan.

*Corresponding Author’s E-mail: sanaseed@hotmail.com; Tel: 00249912359969; Fax 00249 183 7970028

Accepted October 14, 2013
 

Abstract

Maternal allo-immunization, also known as iso-immunization, occurs when a women’s immune system is sensitized to foreign erythrocyte surface antigens, stimulating the production of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies. The most common routes of maternal sensitization are via blood transfusion or feto-maternal hemorrhage associated with delivery, trauma, spontaneous or induced abortion, ectopic pregnancy, or invasive obstetric procedures (Susan, et al., 2006). The aim of this study is to detect the frequency and specificity of allo-antibodies against (RBCs) antigens among Sudanese multi-parous women in Khartoum state, and to associate between number of pregnancies, history of abortion and history of previous blood transfusion with allo-immunization. Eighty Sudanese multi-parous pregnant females were randomly selected for this study. Samples were collected and tested for ABO/Rh (D) groups; coomb’s test was done using Coomb’s technique for antibody screening and antibody identification using column agglutination method. Shows that 8(10.0%) of the pregnant females showed positive allo-antibodies, where as 72 (90.0%) were negative. Identification of antibodies showed anti-Kell 3(37.5%), anti-E 2(25.0%), anti-S1 (12.5%), anti-Cw 1(12.5%) and anti-Lea 1(12.5%). Among the 8 pregnant females with positive antibody screening only 2 females (25.0%) were previously transfused, while 6 females (75.0%) were not exposed to blood transfusion. The relationship between abortion and allo-immunization was found to be significant (P value < 0.05) and the relationship between number of pregnancies and allo-immunization was found to be significant (P value < 0.05). This study concluded that the most common identified antibodies were anti-Kell. Allo-antibodies detected among the pregnant females were due to pregnancy and not blood transfusion. There was a relationship between abortion and allo-immunization and Increase number of pregnancies gives a chance for allo-immunization to occur.

Keywords: Red blood cells, Iso-immunization, Allo-antibodies, Sudanese, Khartoum State