Screening for extended blood grouping in children with transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia

Background Beta-thalassemia is the most common genetic disorder that causes chronic hemolytic anemia. Transfusion therapy and iron chelation are the cornerstones in the management of thalassemia. Aim To screen children with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia for the presence of minor blood groups. Patients and methods This cross-sectional study was carried out on 30 children on transfusions for at least a year. Results Nine (30%) patients were negative for RH and 21 (70%) were positive. Ten children had type A blood, twelve had type O blood, five had type B blood, and three had type AB blood. Four (13.33%) patients tested positive for minor blood group antigens, whereas 26 (86.67%) tested negative. Two children tested positive for e-antigen, one for the Kell antigen, and one for the Fya antigen. Five (16.67%) patients tested positive for minor blood group antibodies and 25 (83.33%) tested negative. There was a robust relationship between the frequency of blood transfusions and minor blood group antibodies. There was a significant correlation between patients’ minor blood group antibodies and their RH phenotype. Conclusion This study highlights the importance of considering minor blood group antibodies in managing blood transfusions for children with thalassemia. Positive minor blood group antibodies are associated with a need for more frequent transfusions. However, ABO blood group and minor blood group antigens themselves did not significantly affect transfusion frequency in this study.