A case in which the anti-c antibody produced by frequent platelet transfusion affected the ABO blood group test results

Abstract

The risk of irregular antibody production after platelet transfusion seems to be low, since the number of red blood cells contained in platelet products is very small. However, we encountered the case of a patient with antibody production probably caused by platelet transfusion. The patient was a woman who presented with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). She had no history of red blood cell transfusion and her screening test for irregular antibodies showed negative results. The production of anti-E and anti-c antibodies after frequent platelet transfusions was considered. We reconfirmed that red blood cells in platelet preparations triggered an immune response. The IgM-type anti-c antibody affected the ABO blood group test results. These findings suggest that the test should be carried out considering the possibility of irregular antibody production, including those of the IgM type, after platelet transfusion.