Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
TURK PEDIATRI ARSIVI, cilt.48, sa.1, ss.23-29, 2013 (ESCI)
Aim: ABO/Rh incompatibilities are common causes of blood group incompatibility in newborns. On rare occasions, alloimmunization due to minor erythrocyte antigens may cause severe hemolytic disease requiring exchange transfusion. Most common minor erythrocyte antigens include non-D Rh antigens (c, C, e, E), Kell, Duffy, Kidd and MNS. In this study, we aimed to investigate minor erythrocyte antigens and their possible effects in newborns who were hospitalized for indirect hyperbilirubinemia and did not have any other detectable cause for neonatal jaundice. Material and Method: : Between July 1st 2009 and September 31st 2009, 107 newborns were enrolled to investigate the relationship between minor erythrocyte antigens and neonatal jaundice. Patients with common causes of hyperbilirubinemia such as ABO/Rh incompatibility, hypothyroidism, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, inborn errors of metabolism and sepsis were excluded. The study was approved by the ethics commite ((25.06.2006/35-2009). Minor erythrocyte antigens were studied by performing gel centrifugation method using human monoclonal antibodies. Antibodies were detected in mothers with positive antibody screening. Antigens which countered the antibodies present in the mother and which were found to be positive in the infant were considered as a cause of incompatibility. Kell, C, E, c, e antigens were investigated in all newborns regardless of their antibody screening results. Results: Minor erythrocyte incompatibility was detected in 7 out of 107 newborns (6.5%). Assessment among 230 newborns hospitalized for indirect hyperbilirubinemia revealed a rate of 3% for minor erythrocyte antigen positivity. The most common incompatibility was related to "s" antigen which was detected in 4 patients. Other antigens detected included C, Jka, S, Lub and N. Only 1 patient was found to carry Kell antigen. However his mother displayed negative antibody screening. Direct coombs positivity or severe hemolysis could not be detected in any of the patients with minor erythrocyte antigen incompatibility. Although the clinical course was similar, jaundice was realized much later in these infants when compared to other infants with indirect hyperbilirubinemia. Conclusions: Currently minor erythrocyte antigens are not being investigated routinely in neonatal jaundice. However, clinicians should keep in mind that minor erythrocyte antigens can cause indirect hyperbilirubinemia and sometimes severe hemolytic disease. Therefore they should remember to study these antigens in newborns with pathologic jaundice.