Alloimmunization can be a significant complication of transfusion therapy in patients with thalassemia and hemoglobinopathies. The aim of this study was to investigate Rh and Kell antigens in patients with thalassemia major and in donors in Turkey. A total of 3061 donors and 155 thalassemic patients from three different blood donation centers in Turkey were the subjects of this study. Antigens of Rh and Kell were determined using the Diamed Gel Test. The results of Rh haplotype tests in the thalassemic patients were 40.0% R1, 35.8% r, 19.8% R2, 2.8% R0, 1.4% r'; and in the donors were 46.7% R1, 33.8 %r, 16.1% R2, 2.6% R0, 0.5 % r1, 0.13% Rz and 0.08 % r'. The results of phenotype testing in the patients were 37.4 % R1r, 35.7% R1R2, 10.3% rr, 6.6 % R2r, 5.7% R1R1, 2.8 % R2R2, 2.8 % R0R0 and 0.8 rr'. The phenotypes of th donors were 33 % R1r, 30.5% R1R2, 21.8% R1R1, 11.6% rr, 10.4% R2r, 2.7% R0R0, 2.4% R2R2, 0.9% rr' and 0.03% RzRz. Of the Rh haplotype R1 was the most common in both groups; constituting 46.7% and 40.0%. R1r was also the most common Rh phenotype in both groups; constituting 37.4% and 33%. The incidence of Kell antigens in the donors and patients was 5.42 and 3.77% respectively. There was no significant difference in the haplotypes and phenotypes of these thalassemic patients and donors in Turkey.

Alloimmunization can be a significant complication of transfusion therapy in patients with thalassemia and hemoglobinopathies. The aim of this study was to investigate Rh and Kell antigens in patients with thalassemia major and in donors in Turkey. A total of 3061 donors and 155 thalassemic patients from three different blood donation centers in Turkey were the subjects of this study. Antigens of Rh and Kell were determined using the Diamed Gel Test. The results of Rh haplotype tests in the thalassemic patients were 40.0% R1, 35.8% r, 19.8% R2, 2.8% R0, 1.4% r'; and in the donors were 46.7% R1, 33.8 %r, 16.1% R2, 2.6% R0, 0.5 % r1, 0.13% Rz and 0.08 % r'. The results of phenotype testing in the patients were 37.4 % R1r, 35.7% R1R2, 10.3% rr, 6.6 % R2r, 5.7% R1R1, 2.8 % R2R2, 2.8 % R0R0 and 0.8 rr'. The phenotypes of th donors were 33 % R1r, 30.5% R1R2, 21.8% R1R1, 11.6% rr, 10.4% R2r, 2.7% R0R0, 2.4% R2R2, 0.9% rr' and 0.03% RzRz. Of the Rh haplotype R1 was the most common in both groups; constituting 46.7% and 40.0%. R1r was also the most common Rh phenotype in both groups; constituting 37.4% and 33%. The incidence of Kell antigens in the donors and patients was 5.42 and 3.77% respectively. There was no significant difference in the haplotypes and phenotypes of these thalassemic patients and donors in Turkey.