A centralized recipient database enhances the serologic safety of RBC transfusions for patients with sickle cell disease

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the utility of a centralized transfusion service model in preventing the transfusion of incompatible units in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). Methods: The serologic records of transfused patients with SCD were reviewed. The index hospital was where an alloantibody was initially detected. Results: In total, 150 patients with SCD were evaluated; 66 (44.0%) of 150 were alloimmunized. In 42 (63.6%) of these patients, 1 or more antibodies evanesced. The median number of hospitals visited by patients with SCD for RBC transfusion with 1 or more evanesced antibodies was three (range, one to eight); the median number of nonindex hospitals was two (range, one to seven). Of the patients with evanesced antibodies, 28.6% received transfusions at various nonindex hospitals 20 or more times after the antibody evanesced. Conclusions: A centralized database can help identify patients with SCD who have evanesced alloantibodies and prevent issuing incompatible RBC units.