Non-ABO red blood cell alloantibodies following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Abstract

Immune-mediated hemolysis is a well-recognized occurrence which complicates the period following a bone marrow transplant (BMT). However, although many studies have investigated the hemolytic anemia following ABO-incompatible BMT, data regarding the occurrence of alloantibodies against red blood cell (RBC) antigens other than ABO in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation are limited. In this review, we briefly analyze the most important non-ABO red blood cell (RBC) antigen systems involved in the development of post-BMT alloimmune hemolytic anemia, paying particular attention to the pathogenic mechanisms and the clinical significance of the alloantibodies involved. Among the non-ABO RBC antigens, RhD antigen is the one most frequently implicated in the development of post-BMT alloimmune hemolytic anemia. Although less frequent than hemolysis following transplants with ABO incompatibility, non-ABO-incompatible allograft hemolysis may severely complicate the post-BMT period creating difficult clinical management issues. For this reason, we advise careful pre-transplant donor and recipient checks for the most important RBC antigen systems and close post-BMT immunohematological monitoring in those patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant with RBC antigen incompatibility.