TY - JOUR T1 - Study of Kell blood group genotype in alloimmiunized thalassemia patients TT - بررسی ژنوتیپ سیستم گروه خونی Kell در بیماران تالاسمی دارای آلوآنتی‌بادی JF - Blood-Journal JO - Blood-Journal VL - 16 IS - 4 UR - http://bloodjournal.ir/article-1-1275-en.html Y1 - 2019 SP - 259 EP - 269 KW - Key words: Genotype KW - Kell Blood-Group System KW - Thalassemia N2 - Abstract Background and Objectives Alloimmunization is the most serious problem in thalassemia patients and Anti-K is the most prevalent antibody in these patients. So accurate identification of this antigen can significantly decrease the rate of alloimmunization. Serological phenotyping is usually not reliable in multi-transfused patients. Molecular genotyping can overcome limitations of hemagglutination assays, resolve discrepant serologic typing and guide RBC selection for them. In this regard, we intended to determine the K and k among alloimmunized thalassemia patients using molecular methods and compare the results between different methods. Materials and Methods In this descriptive study, a total of 200 blood samples were collected randomly from alloimmunized thalassemia patients of Tehran Adult Thalassemia Clinic. The phenotype of all samples was determined for K and k. PCR-SSP was performed for all samples. The discrepant results between the phenotype and genotype were re-evaluated by PCR-RFLP and were confirmed by DNA sequencing. Results Sixty-three (28%) out of 200 patients developed Anti-K. Molecular typing of samples for K and k antigens revealed 96% (192 patients) KEL*02/KEL*02 and 4% (8 patients) KEL*01/KEL*02 among our samples. Discrepancy between the serology and genotyping results were detected in 8 cases that in all cases correction of genotype results was confirmed by DNA sequencing. Conclusions This study demonstrates that antibodies against K antigen continue to develop in thalassemia patients at high rate. Our findings suggest that RBC molecular genotyping is superior to serological phenotyping and is a good alternative and more reliable method especially in multi transfusion patients such as thalassemia patients. M3 ER -