ANTIGEN FREQUENCY OF KELL, DUFFY, KIDD, MNS AND LUTHERAN BLOOD GROUP SYSTEM IN POPULATION OF NORTH MACEDONIA – TOWARDS RARE BLOOD GROUP REGISTRY

Abstract

The aim of this study is to perform RBC antigen typing of: Kell, Duffy, Kidd, MNS and Lutheran systems and to calculate antigen and phenotype frequency In 920 blood donors, RBC typing of K, k, Kpa, Kpb, Fya, Fyb, Jka, Jkb, S, s, Lua and Lub antigens was performed using specific monoclonal antisera, antihuman globulin and column agglutination technique with gel cards (BioRad). Antigen and phenotype frequencies were calculated from the statistics module of the donor information system (database for blood donors). The prevalence of Kell antigens is 7.5% for K and 99.94% for k. The phenotype (K+k-) is present in 21 (0.06%) blood donors. The frequency of other clinically significant antigens is as follows: 1.1% (Kpa), 100.0% (Kpb), 60.3% (Jka), 76.2% (Jkb), 65.5% (Fya), 79.5% (Fyb), 59.8% (S), 86.5 (s), 7.2% (Lua) and 92.8% (Lub). The most frequent phenotypes are Jk(a+b+) with 41.5%, Fy(a+b+) with 48.5%, (S+ s+) with 46.3% and Lu(a-b+) with 92.8%. Fy(a-b-) phenotype was detected in 0.21% of blood donors. The estimated RBC antigen frequency in our blood donor population differs from the antigen frequency in different populations. Because of that extended RBC typing is necessary for identifying rare blood group donors within the local population. This strategy enables to meet the needs for RBC transfusion in patients with rare phenotypes and with antibodies against high frequency antigens or multiple antibodies, as well as to prevent RBC alloimmunization in polytransfused patients providing antigen matched RBC.