Red Blood Cell Alloimmunization with a Rare Antigen Causing a Delayed
Hemolytic Transfusion Reaction in Sickle Cell Disease: A Case Report and
Review of Management
Abstract
A delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction (DHTR) is a potential
complication for patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) who develop red
blood cell (RBC) alloimmunization to foreign antigens from allogeneic
transfusions, resulting in life-threatening hemolytic anemia between 24
hours and 28 days after the transfusion. Guidelines have suggested
obtaining an extended RBC antigen profile by genotyping in patients with
SCD to provide increased accuracy for antigen matching. We present a
pediatric patient with SCD and a rare RBC antigen genotype who developed
DHTR to describe the significant challenges with antibody
identification, the process of obtaining compatible blood, and our
medical management.