Blood group antigen and phenotype prevalence in the Korean population compared to other ethnic populations and its association with RBC alloantibody frequency.

Abstract

This study aimed to analyse the allele frequency of blood group antigens in the Korean population and other ethnic populations and the association of blood group antigens with red blood cell (RBC) alloantibodies. Blood group antigen genotyping can support patients undergoing frequent transfusions who have alloantibodies and antibodies against high-prevalence blood group antigens. Twenty-nine single nucleotide variations and 37 blood group antigens were tested. Samples requested for routine blood typing were collected from Jan to Apr 2016. Genotyping was performed on 145 Korean samples and was confirmed by bidirectional sequencing and serologic tests. The allele frequency data were compared with previous genotyping datasets (three datasets from Korea and one each from China, Europe, Asia, and the USA). Alloantibody frequencies and blood group antigens from the electronic medical record of 1772 cases were examined. E antigen was higher in the Korean population compared to that of Asian and European populations. K, Kpa , Fyb and Doa allele frequencies were lower compared to other ethnic populations. RBC alloantibodies with frequencies (%) greater than 1% from the 1772 cases were as follows: anti-E, 36·7%, anti-C, 17·7%; anti-c 7·39%; anti-M, 5·9%; anti-e, 5·2%; anti-Jka , 2·9%; and anti-Fya , 1·1%. Blood group antigens and alloantibody frequencies revealed inverse trends that did not reach statistical significance. The allele frequency of blood group antigens assessed by high-throughput methods provided reliable and valuable information that could be used for maintaining donor pools and providing compatible blood for genotyped patients.