Irregular Isoantibodies in the Sera of Patients Undergoing Chronic Hemodialysis

Abstract

Within the last six years, 5 examples of red cell antibodies have been found in the sera of 69 patients maintained on chronic hemodialysis . The frequency with which these irregular antibodies were detected was about 7 .2%, and many of the patients who were revealed to have irregular antibodies, had a history of prior transfusion and pregnancies. Since there was no attempt at systematic study, the true incidence may well have been higher. These identified antibodies were anti N, anti Le^b+anti HI mixture, anti Le^a+anti Le^b mixture, anti HI and anti P₁. In the first case, it has been suggested that extracorporeal circulation may induce an unusual degree of antigenecity on red cells. These irregular antibodies appeared to be of much clinical significance as hemodialysis patients may customarily receive blood transfusion and renal transplantation in future. We are planning further investigations in order to find the evidence by which we may discriminate between the roles of blood transfusion and of extracorporeal circulation in the induction of antibodies.