<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Antibodies to antigens in the Kell blood group system are usually immunoglobulin G, and, notoriously, anti-K, anti-k, and anti-Kpa can cause severe hemolytic transfusion reactions, as well as severe hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN). It has been shown that the titer of anti-K does not correlate with the severity of HDFN because, in addition to immune destruction of red blood cells (RBCs), anti-K causes suppression of erythropoiesis in the fetus, which can result in severe anemia. We report a case involving anti-Kpa in which one twin was anemic and the other was not. Standard hemagglutination and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based tests were used. At delivery, anti-Kpa was identified in serum from the mother and twin A, and in the eluate prepared from the baby’s RBCs. PCR-based assays showed twin A (boy) was <italic>KEL*841T/C (KEL*03/KEL*04),</italic> which is predicted to encode Kp(a+b+). Twin B (girl) was <italic>KEL*841C/C (KEL*04/KEL*04),</italic> which is predicted to encode Kp(a–b+). We describe the first reported case of probable suppression of erythropoiesis attributable to anti-Kpa. One twin born to a woman whose serum contained anti-Kpa experienced HDFN while the other did not. Based on DNA analysis, the predicted blood type of the affected twin was Kp(a+b+) and that of the unaffected twin was Kp(a–b+). The laboratory findings and clinical course of the affected twin were consistent with suppression of erythropoiesis in addition to immune RBC destruction. <italic><bold>Immunohematology</bold></italic><bold>2011;27: 58–60.</bold></abstract>

Antibodies to antigens in the Kell blood group system are usually immunoglobulin G, and, notoriously, anti-K, anti-k, and anti-Kpa can cause severe hemolytic transfusion reactions, as well as severe hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN). It has been shown that the titer of anti-K does not correlate with the severity of HDFN because, in addition to immune destruction of red blood cells (RBCs), anti-K causes suppression of erythropoiesis in the fetus, which can result in severe anemia. We report a case involving anti-Kpa in which one twin was anemic and the other was not. Standard hemagglutination and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based tests were used. At delivery, anti-Kpa was identified in serum from the mother and twin A, and in the eluate prepared from the baby’s RBCs. PCR-based assays showed twin A (boy) was KEL*841T/C (KEL*03/KEL*04), which is predicted to encode Kp(a+b+). Twin B (girl) was KEL*841C/C (KEL*04/KEL*04), which is predicted to encode Kp(a–b+). We describe the first reported case of probable suppression of erythropoiesis attributable to anti-Kpa. One twin born to a woman whose serum contained anti-Kpa experienced HDFN while the other did not. Based on DNA analysis, the predicted blood type of the affected twin was Kp(a+b+) and that of the unaffected twin was Kp(a–b+). The laboratory findings and clinical course of the affected twin were consistent with suppression of erythropoiesis in addition to immune RBC destruction. Immunohematology2011;27: 58–60.

Possible suppression of fetal erythropoiesis by the Kell blood group antibody anti-Kpa

Immunohematology

Possible suppression of fetal erythropoiesis by the Kell blood group antibody anti-Kp

Antibodies to antigens in the Kell blood group system are usually immunoglobulin G, and, notoriously, anti-K, anti-k, and anti-Kpa can cause severe hemolytic...

Possible suppression of fetal erythropoiesis by the Kell blood group antibody anti-Kp^a

Article Category: Case Report

Published Online: Dec 01, 2019

Page range: 58 - 60

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21307/immunohematology-2019-174

© 2011 M. Tuson, et al., published by Sciendo