The Incidences of KEL Blood Group Antigens and Phenotypes in Southwestern Saudi Arabia

Amr J Halawani,1 Hisham I Abu-Tawil,2,3 Salah Alharbi,4 Bandar S Almalki,5 Fawaz M Majmi,6 Renad A Miny,1 Nada G Alghoribi,1 Sulaiman S Alabsi,7 Saeed M Kabrah,1 Haneen O Alhaj,8 Musaed M Alshahrani,9 Nora Y Hakami10 1Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Laboratory and Blood Bank, Prince Mohammed Bin Nasser Hospital, Ministry of Health, Jazan, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Laboratory and Blood Bank, King Faisal Medical City for Southern Regions, Ministry of Health, Abha, Saudi Arabia; 4Armed Forces Hospital in Jazan, Ministry of Defence, Jazan, Saudi Arabia; 5General Medical Committee, tDirectorate General of Health Affairs, Jazan, Saudi Arabia; 6Department of Pharmacy, Ahad Al Masarihah General Hospital, Ministry of Health, Jazan, Saudi Arabia; 7King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 8Kholoud Laboratory for Medical Analysis, Makkah, Saudi Arabia; 9Blood Bank Laboratory, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Saudi Arabia; 10Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Amr J Halawani, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, Email [email protected]: Jazan Province in Saudi Arabia is notable for its high prevalence of inherited hemoglobinopathies, including sickle cell disease and thalassemia, necessitating frequent blood transfusions for affected individuals. To mitigate risks such as RBC alloimmunization and hemolytic transfusion reactions, ensuring blood compatibility is crucial. The Kell (KEL) blood group system, pivotal alongside the ABO and RH systems, encompasses multiple antigens implicated in these complications. This study aimed to investigate the frequencies of KEL blood group antigens (K, k, Kpa, and Kpb) and determine KEL phenotypes (K/k and Kpa/Kpb) among Saudi blood donors living in Jazan Province.Methods: A total of 138 anonymous healthy Saudi blood donors from Prince Mohammed bin Nasser Hospital in Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia, were enrolled in this study. Anticoagulated blood was analyzed using the gel card technique to assess K, k, Kpa, and Kpb antigens.Results: The prevalence of KEL antigens was as follows: K (n = 9, 6.52%), k (n = 137, 99.28%), Kpa (n = 1, 0.72%), and Kpb (n = 138, 100%). KEL phenotypes observed were K+k+ (n = 8, 5.80%), K+k− (n = 1 0.72%), K−k+ (n = 129, 93.48%), Kp(a+b+) (n = 1, 0.72%), and Kp(a−b+) (n = 137, 99.28%).Conclusion: This study provides insights into the prevalence of KEL blood group antigens and phenotypes in Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia. These findings may contribute to the establishment of a national blood group database and guide transfusion practices to ensure compatibility and minimize alloimmunization risks.Keywords: Kell blood group, blood transfusion, immunohematology, Saudi Arabia