Why do people still make anti-D over 50 years after the introduction of Rho(D) immune globulin? A Biomedical Excellence for Safer Transfusion (BEST) Collaborative study.

DelBaugh RM., Murphy MF., Staves J., Fachini RM., Wendel S., Hands K., Bonet-Bub C., Kutner JM., Cohn CS., Cox CA., Jacquot C., Hasan RA., Lu W., Juskewitch JE., Raval JS., Rollins-Raval MA., Fung MK., Ziman A., Fermon EJ., Gorlin JB., Peters J., Dunbar NM., BEST foRmation of Anti‐D After Rhogam (RADAR) Study Investigators and the Biomedical Excellence for Safer Transfusion (BEST) Collaborative .

BACKGROUND: Rho(D) immune globulin (RhIg) is used to reduce RhD alloimmunization in pregnancy. This study describes potential causes for RhD alloimmunization after the development and implementation of RhIg. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This retrospective descriptive study investigated RhD-negative patients born in 1965-2005 with anti-D newly identified during 2018-2022. Transfusion, pregnancy, intravenous drug abuse, and transplantation were considered potential alloimmunization sources. RESULTS: There were 1200 study patients (852 females; 348 males) at 30 institutions in 5 countries (USA, Canada, UK, New Zealand, Brazil). Most patients had a single potential source of alloimmunization identified (857/1200, 71%), most commonly pregnancy among females (537/852, 63%) and transfusion among males (180/348, 52%). When multiple potential sources were included, males were more likely than females to have a history of transfusion (235/348 [68%] vs. 149/852 [17%], p < .0001) and confirmed or suspected intravenous drug abuse (100/348 [29%] vs. 138/852 [16%], p < .0001). Among females with a history of pregnancy, 119/718 (17%) had healthcare access issues, 120/718 (17%) had pregnancy in a country where they may not have received RhIg, and 21/718 (3%) refused RhIg. Among patients with a history of transfusion, males were more likely than females to have received RhD-positive red blood cells or whole blood (143/235 [61%] vs. 30/149 [20%], p < .0001) and/or platelets (84/235 [36%] vs. 19/149 [13%], p < .0001). DISCUSSION: Pregnancy was the most frequently identified potential source of RhD alloimmunization among females. Transfusion was most frequent in males. Intravenous drug abuse as a common potential source among patients with RhD alloimmunization merits further study.

DOI

10.1111/trf.18202

Type

Journal article

Publication Date

2025-05-01T00:00:00+00:00

Volume

65

Pages

957 - 967

Total pages

10

Keywords

Rho(D) immune globulin (RhIg), alloimmunization, anti‐D, intravenous drug abuse, pregnancy, transfusion, transplant, Humans, Female, Male, Rho(D) Immune Globulin, Retrospective Studies, Pregnancy, Adult, Isoantibodies, Rh Isoimmunization, Blood Transfusion, Middle Aged, Rh-Hr Blood-Group System

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