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Nelson A, Ho PJ, Haysom H, Waters N, Wellard C, Chee M, Teo J, Greenway A, Mason K, Kidson-Gerber G, Kaplan Z, Carter T, Cole-Sinclair MF, Barbaro P, Wood EM. Sickle cell disease in Australia: a snapshot from the Australian Haemoglobinopathy Registry. Intern Med J 2024; 54:764-772. [PMID: 38064543 DOI: 10.1111/imj.16297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common monogenic disorder worldwide. In deoxygenated conditions, the altered beta chain (haemoglobin S [HbS]) polymerises and distorts the erythrocyte, resulting in pain crises, vasculopathy and end-organ damage. Clinical complications of SCD cause substantial morbidity, and therapy demands expertise and resources. Optimising care for patients and planning resource allocation for the future requires an understanding of the disease in the Australian population. The Australian Haemoglobinopathy Registry (HbR) is a collaborative initiative of specialist centres collating and analysing data on patients with haemoglobin disorders. AIMS To provide a snapshot of SCD in Australia over a 12-month period based on data from the HbR. METHODS Patients with a clinically significant sickling disorder across 12 clinical sites were included for analysis. Data include demographic and diagnostic details, as well as details of the clinical management of the condition over a 12-month period. RESULTS Data on 359 SCD patients demonstrate a shift in the demographic of patients in Australia, with a growing proportion of sub-Saharan African ethnicities associated with the HbSS genotype. Acute and chronic complications are common, and patients require significant outpatient and inpatient support. Prevalence of disease complications and therapeutic trends are in keeping with other high-income countries. CONCLUSIONS This study provides the first national picture of SCD in Australia, describing the characteristics and needs of SCD patients, elucidating demand for current and novel therapy and facilitating the planning of services for this vulnerable population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Nelson
- Transfusion Research Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Institute of Haematology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - P Joy Ho
- Institute of Haematology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Helen Haysom
- Transfusion Research Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Neil Waters
- Transfusion Research Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Cameron Wellard
- Transfusion Research Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Melissa Chee
- Transfusion Research Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Juliana Teo
- Department of Haematology, Children's Hospital Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Anthea Greenway
- Department of Haematology, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Clinical Haematology, Monash Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kylie Mason
- Department of Haematology, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Clinical Haematology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Giselle Kidson-Gerber
- Department of Haematology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Zane Kaplan
- Department of Clinical Haematology, Monash Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Tina Carter
- Department of Haematology, Perth Children's Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | | | - Pasquale Barbaro
- Department of Haematology, Queensland Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Erica M Wood
- Transfusion Research Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Clinical Haematology, Monash Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Lynch K, Mega A, Daves M, Sadiq A, Fogarty H, Piccin A. Liver Disease and Sickle Cell Disease: Auto-Immune Hepatitis more than a Coincidence; A Systematic Review of the Literature. Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis 2023; 15:e2023060. [PMID: 38028400 PMCID: PMC10631714 DOI: 10.4084/mjhid.2023.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In patients with SCD, chronic liver damage is a common manifestation. More than 50% of SCD patients have elevated liver enzymes. Common underlying aetiologies include sickle cell hepatic crisis, viral hepatitis, sickle cell intrahepatic cholestasis and hepatic sequestration in the acute setting, and cholelithiasis and iron overload in the chronic setting. Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a rare disease that appears to occur more commonly in the sickle cell disease (SCD) population than in the general population. There are many schools of thought as to why this is the case, including the phosphatidylserine hypothesis, the heme inflammatory hypothesis, the complement generation hypothesis, and the transfusion alloimmunization hypothesis. Due to the natural history of the two illnesses, SCD is almost always diagnosed first in cases of dual pathology. Symptoms such as jaundice, fatigue, and abdominal pain are common in SCD, as are abnormal liver function tests (LFTs). These abnormalities, attributed to the other more frequent liver involvements in SCD, can lead to delays in AIH diagnosis in this population. Corticosteroids, sometimes with other immunosuppressive agents, such as azathioprine, are the cornerstone of acute AIH treatment. However, corticosteroid use in the SCD population has been shown to carry an increased risk of vaso-occlusive crises, providing a treatment dilemma. The following is a review of AIH in the SCD population, where we explore the pathophysiology behind the association between the two disorders, discuss an approach to investigating abnormal LFTs in SCD, and examine treatment options in this population with co-existing diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelvin Lynch
- Dept of Gastroenterology, Cork University Hospital, Cork, Ireland
| | - Andrea Mega
- Dept of Gastroenterology, Provincial Hospital of Bolzano (SABES-ASDAA), Bolzano, Italy
| | - Massimo Daves
- Dept of Laboratory Medicine, Provincial Hospital of Bolzano (SABES-ASDAA), Bolzano, Italy
| | - Asma Sadiq
- Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service, Belfast, UK
| | - Helen Fogarty
- Department of Haematology, Children's Health Ireland at Crumlin, Dublin
- Irish Centre for Vascular Biology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin
| | - Andrea Piccin
- Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service, Belfast, UK
- Dept of Internal Medicine V, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
- Dept of Industrial Engineering, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
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3
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Zheng Y, Gossett JM, Chen PL, Barton M, Ryan M, Yu J, Kang G, Hankins JS, Chou ST. Proinflammatory state promotes red blood cell alloimmunization in pediatric patients with sickle cell disease. Blood Adv 2023; 7:4799-4808. [PMID: 37023228 PMCID: PMC10469551 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2022008647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
We examined risk factors for red blood cell (RBC) alloimmunization in pediatric patients with sickle cell disease, focusing on the recipients' inflammatory state at the time of transfusion and anti-inflammatory role of hydroxyurea (HU). Among 471 participants, 55 (11.70%) participants were alloimmunized and formed 59 alloantibodies and 17 autoantibodies with an alloimmunization rate of 0.36 alloantibodies per 100 units. Analysis of 27 participants in whom alloantibodies were formed with specificities showed 23.8% (30/126) of units transfused during a proinflammatory event resulting in alloantibody formation compared with 2.8% (27/952) of units transfused at steady state. Therefore, transfusion during proinflammatory events increased the risk for alloimmunization (odds ratio [OR], 4.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.64-10.85; P = .003). Further analysis of all the 471 participants showed that alloimmunization of patients who received episodic transfusion, mostly during proinflammatory events, was not reduced with HU therapy (OR, 6.52; 95% CI, 0.85-49.77; P = .071), HU therapy duration (OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.997-1.28; P = .056), or HU dose (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.96-1.16; P = .242). The analysis also identified high transfusion burden (OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.003-1.04; P = .020) and hemoglobin S (HbSS) and HbSβ0-thalassemia genotypes (OR, 11.22, 95% CI, 1.51-83.38; P = .018) as additional risk factors for alloimmunization. In conclusion, the inflammatory state of transfusion recipients affects the risk of RBC alloimmunization, which is not modified by HU therapy. Judicious use of transfusion during proinflammatory events is critical for preventing alloimmunization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zheng
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Jeffrey M. Gossett
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Pei-Lin Chen
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Martha Barton
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Missy Ryan
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Jing Yu
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Guolian Kang
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Jane S. Hankins
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Stella T. Chou
- Departments of Pediatrics and Pathology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
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Aboderin FI, Oduola T, Davison GM, Oguntibeju OO. A Review of the Relationship between the Immune Response, Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and the Pathogenesis of Sickle Cell Anaemia. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2413. [PMID: 37760854 PMCID: PMC10525295 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11092413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Sickle cell anaemia (SCD) is a life-threatening haematological disorder which is predominant in sub-Saharan Africa and is triggered by a genetic mutation of the β-chain haemoglobin gene resulting in the substitution of glutamic acid with valine. This mutation leads to the production of an abnormal haemoglobin molecule called haemoglobin S (HbS). When deoxygenated, haemoglobin S (HbS) polymerises and results in a sickle-shaped red blood cell which is rigid and has a significantly shortened life span. Various reports have shown a strong link between oxidative stress, inflammation, the immune response, and the pathogenesis of sickle cell disease. The consequence of these processes leads to the development of vasculopathy (disease of the blood vessels) and several other complications. The role of the immune system, particularly the innate immune system, in the pathogenesis of SCD has become increasingly clear in recent years of research; however, little is known about the roles of the adaptive immune system in this disease. This review examines the interaction between the immune system, inflammation, oxidative stress, blood transfusion, and their effects on the pathogenesis of sickle cell anaemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florence Ifechukwude Aboderin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville 7535, South Africa;
| | - Taofeeq Oduola
- Department of Chemical Pathology, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto 840004, Nigeria;
| | - Glenda Mary Davison
- SAMRC/CPUT Cardiometabolic Health Research Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville 7535, South Africa;
| | - Oluwafemi Omoniyi Oguntibeju
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville 7535, South Africa;
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Ouadghiri S, El Morabit K, Elansari N, Atouf O, Elkababri M, Hessissen L, Essakalli M. Human leukocyte antigen immunization in transfusion-dependent Moroccan patients with beta-thalassemia major: prevalence and risk factors. Hematol Transfus Cell Ther 2023:S2531-1379(23)00086-X. [PMID: 37244818 DOI: 10.1016/j.htct.2023.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Beta-thalassemia major patients need a regular blood transfusion to have an initial normal growth. However, these patients have an increased risk of developing alloantibodies. Our main goal was to study HLA alloimmunization in Moroccan Beta-thalassemia patients by confronting it with transfusion and demographic criteria, exploring the involvement of HLA typing profile in the development of HLA antibodies and in turn determining risk factors for their development. METHODS The study consisted of 53 Moroccan pediatric patients with Beta-thalassemia major. Screening for HLA alloantibodies was performed using Luminex technology Whereas HLA genotyping was done with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP). RESULTS In this study, 50.9% of patients have been identified as positive for HLA antibodies, with 59.3% having both HLA Class I and Class II antibodies. A significant increase frequency of DRB1*11 allele was revealed in non-immunized patients (34.6% vs. 0%, p = 0.001). Our results also revealed that the majority of our HLA immunized patients were women (72.4% vs. 27.6%, p = 0.001), and transfused with more than 300 units of RBC units (66.7% vs. 33.3%, p = 0.02). There were statistically significant differences when comparing these frequencies. CONCLUSIONS This paper revealed that the transfusion dependent Beta-thalassemia major patients are exposed to risk of developing HLA antibodies following transfusions with leukoreduced RBC units. The HLA DRB1*11 was a protective factor against HLA alloimmunization in our beta-thalassemia major patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanae Ouadghiri
- Blood Transfusion, Ibn Sina University Hospital, Rabat, Morocco; Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohamed V University, Rabat, Morocco.
| | | | - Naoual Elansari
- Pediatric Oncology center of the children's Hospital, Ibn Sina University Hospital, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Ouafae Atouf
- Blood Transfusion, Ibn Sina University Hospital, Rabat, Morocco; Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohamed V University, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Maria Elkababri
- Pediatric Oncology center of the children's Hospital, Ibn Sina University Hospital, Rabat, Morocco; Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohamed V University, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Laila Hessissen
- Pediatric Oncology center of the children's Hospital, Ibn Sina University Hospital, Rabat, Morocco; Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohamed V University, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Malika Essakalli
- Blood Transfusion, Ibn Sina University Hospital, Rabat, Morocco; Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohamed V University, Rabat, Morocco
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6
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Wong K, Lai WK, Jackson DE. HLA Class II regulation of immune response in sickle cell disease patients: Susceptibility to red blood cell alloimmunization (systematic review and meta-analysis). Vox Sang 2022; 117:1251-1261. [PMID: 36102140 PMCID: PMC9826043 DOI: 10.1111/vox.13351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Sickle cell disease (SCD) patients are commonly treated with red blood cell (RBC) transfusion. Pretransfusion tests commonly involve limited serological antibody testing. RBC alloimmunization to RBC antigens is a frequently encountered complication seen in chronically transfused patients. Genetic factors such as the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) are known to influence and regulate immune responses. HLAs are highly polymorphic and play an essential role in regulating immune responses, including RBC alloimmunization. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the association between HLA Class II allelic polymorphisms with the possible risk of developing RBC alloantibodies. MATERIALS AND METHODS Four databases were systematically searched for relevant studies between the years 2000 and 2021 following the PRISMA guidelines. Four articles met the eligibility and quality criterion, and three alleles, HLA-DRB1*04, HLA-DRB1*15 and HLA-DQB1*03, that were found to be potentially associated with an increased risk in alloantibody formation were included. RESULTS The primary outcome measure was alloimmunization by RBC antigen exposure in multiply transfused SCD patients. The total estimate of alloimmunization of the SCD patients was 2.33 (95% CI, 1.58-3.44), demonstrating susceptibility to RBC alloantibody formation. Heterogeneity between the studies was insignificant, suggesting the differences associated with random sampling errors. The results showed that SCD patients carry an increased risk of producing RBC alloantibodies. CONCLUSION A strategy to prevent RBC alloimmunization is genotyping for genetically susceptible SCD patients receiving multiple transfusions. Early identification of genetic variants that can potentially increase the risk of RBC alloimmunization could aid in the screening process and selection of phenotypically matched RBC units.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karmen Wong
- Thrombosis and Vascular Diseases Laboratory, School of Health and Biomedical SciencesRMIT UniversityBundooraVictoriaAustralia
| | - Wing Kit Lai
- Thrombosis and Vascular Diseases Laboratory, School of Health and Biomedical SciencesRMIT UniversityBundooraVictoriaAustralia
| | - Denise E. Jackson
- Thrombosis and Vascular Diseases Laboratory, School of Health and Biomedical SciencesRMIT UniversityBundooraVictoriaAustralia
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7
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Martins JO, Pagani F, Dezan MR, Oliveira VB, Conrado M, Ziza KC, Gualandro SFM, Langui DM, Bordin JO, Rocha V, Mendrone-Júnior A, Dinardo CL. Impact of HLA-G +3142C>G on the development of antibodies to blood group systems other than the Rh and Kell among sensitized patients with sickle cell disease. Transfus Apher Sci 2022; 61:103447. [PMID: 35487873 DOI: 10.1016/j.transci.2022.103447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients' inflammatory history is an important factor underlying red blood cell (RBC) alloimmunization, which is a frequent transfusion complication among individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD). HLA-G has been associated with different inflammatory and auto - immune diseases. Our goal was to verify whether the HLA-G + 3142 C>G and 14-bp Ins/Del variations are associated with RBC antibody development among SCD patients. METHODS This was a single-center case-control study. SCD patients were randomly selected for the study and divided into two groups: 'Alloimmunized' and 'Nonalloimmunized' depending on the presence of irregular antibodies. The 'Alloimmunized'group was further divided into two subgroups according to the presence of only antibodies against the Rh and Kell blood group systems or the existence of antibodies to antigens of the other blood group systems. RESULTS A total of 213 patients were included in the study (110 alloimmunized and 103 non-alloimmunized). The 'Alloimmunized' and 'Non-alloimmunized' groups did not differ statistically regarding the HLA-G + 14 bp Ins/Del ( p = 0.494) and + 3142 C>G ( p = 0.334). Individuals who had only antibodies against the Rh and Kell antigens had a frequency of HLA-G + 3142GG genotype almost twice as high compared to the groupwith antibodies against less immunogenic antigens ( p = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS The genotype frequency of HLA-G + 3142 C>G differs among alloimmunized SCD patients, depending on the presence of antibodies against low immunogenic RBC antigens. This highlights a possible role played by the HLA-G molecule in the RBC alloimmunization process.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Flavia Pagani
- Fundação Pró-Sangue São Paulo Hemocenter, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Marcia R Dezan
- Fundação Pró-Sangue São Paulo Hemocenter, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Marina Conrado
- Fundação Pró-Sangue São Paulo Hemocenter, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Karen C Ziza
- Fundação Pró-Sangue São Paulo Hemocenter, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - José O Bordin
- Serviço de Hemoterapia da UNIFESP, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Vanderson Rocha
- Serviço de Hemoterapia da UNIFESP, São Paulo, Brazil; Hematology Unit, University of São Paulo, School of Medicine, Brazil; Department of Hematology, Churchill Hospital, NHS BT, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Carla L Dinardo
- Serviço de Hemoterapia da UNIFESP, São Paulo, Brazil; Fundação Pró-Sangue São Paulo Hemocenter, São Paulo, Brazil; Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of São Paulo, School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil.
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8
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Graziadei G, De Franceschi L, Sainati L, Venturelli D, Masera N, Bonomo P, Vassanelli A, Casale M, Lodi G, Voi V, Rigano P, Pinto VM, Quota A, Notarangelo LD, Russo G, Allò M, Rosso R, D'Ascola D, Facchini E, Macchi S, Arcioni F, Bonetti F, Rossi E, Sau A, Campisi S, Colarusso G, Giona F, Lisi R, Giordano P, Boscarol G, Filosa A, Marktel S, Maroni P, Murgia M, Origa R, Longo F, Bortolotti M, Colombatti R, Di Maggio R, Mariani R, Piperno A, Corti P, Fidone C, Palazzi G, Badalamenti L, Gianesin B, Piel FB, Forni GL. Transfusional Approach in Multi-Ethnic Sickle Cell Patients: Real-World Practice Data From a Multicenter Survey in Italy. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:832154. [PMID: 35372393 PMCID: PMC8967327 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.832154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a worldwide distributed hereditary red cell disorder characterized by recurrent acute vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs and anemia). Gold standard treatments are hydroxycarbamide (HC) and/or different red blood cell (RBC) transfusion regimens to limit disease progression. Here, we report a retrospective study on 1,579 SCD patients (median age 23 years; 802 males/777 females), referring to 34 comprehensive Italian centers for hemoglobinopathies. Although we observed a similar proportion of Caucasian (47.9%) and African (48.7%) patients, Italian SCD patients clustered into two distinct overall groups: children of African descent and adults of Caucasian descent. We found a subset of SCD patients requiring more intensive therapy with a combination of HC plus chronic transfusion regimen, due to partial failure of HC treatment alone in preventing or reducing sickle cell-related acute manifestations. Notably, we observed a higher use of acute transfusion approaches for SCD patients of African descent when compared to Caucasian subjects. This might be related to (i) age of starting HC treatment; (ii) patients' low social status; (iii) patients' limited access to family practitioners; or (iv) discrimination. In our cohort, alloimmunization was documented in 135 patients (8.5%) and was more common in Caucasians (10.3%) than in Africans (6.6%). Alloimmunization was similar in male and female and more frequent in adults than in children. Our study reinforces the importance of donor-recipient exact matching for ABO, Rhesus, and Kell antigen systems for RBC compatibility as a winning strategy to avoid or limit alloimmunization events that negatively impact the clinical management of SCD-related severe complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Graziadei
- Rare Diseases Center, General Medicine Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Laura Sainati
- Dipartimento della Salute della Donna e del Bambino Azienda Ospedaliera, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Padova, Italy
| | - Donatella Venturelli
- Servizio Immunotrasfusionale, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Masera
- Pediatric Clinic Hemato-Oncology Department, University of Milano-Bicocca, MBBM Foundation, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy
| | - Piero Bonomo
- Servizio Immunotrasfusionale, Azienda Ospedaliera Maria Paternò Arezzo, Ragusa, Italy
| | - Aurora Vassanelli
- UOC Medicina Trasfusionale, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Verona, Italy
| | - Maddalena Casale
- Department of Women, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, University “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Gianluca Lodi
- Medicina Trasfusionale, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Sant'Anna, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Voi
- Centro per le Emoglobinopatie – Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Biologiche, Università di Torino, Ospedale San Luigi Gonzaga, Torino, Italy
| | - Paolo Rigano
- Campus of Haematology Franco e Piera Cutino, A.O.O.R. “Villa Sofia-Cervello” di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Valeria Maria Pinto
- Hematology, Thalassemia and Congenital Anemia Center, Ospedale Galliera, Genova, Italy
| | - Alessandra Quota
- Unità Operativa Semplice Dipartimentale Talassemia P.O. Vittorio Emanuele, Gela, Italy
| | - Lucia D. Notarangelo
- Italian Association of Pediatric Hematology Oncology (AIEOP) Coagulation Disorders Working Group, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giovanna Russo
- Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Unit, Università di Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Massimo Allò
- Servizio Microcitemia, Presidio Ospedaliero SL 5, Crotone, Italy
| | - Rosamaria Rosso
- UOSD di Talassemia ed Emoglobinopatie, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Policlinico San Marco, Catania, Italy
| | - Domenico D'Ascola
- Centro Microcitemie, Azienda Ospedaliera “Bianchi-Melacrino-Morelli”, Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - Elena Facchini
- SSD Oncoematologia Pediatrica - Policlinico di S.Orsola, Bologna, Italy
| | - Silvia Macchi
- Servizio Trasfusionale, Ospedale Santa Maria delle Croci, Ravenna, Italy
| | | | | | - Enza Rossi
- Unità Operativa Ematologia, Centro di Microcitemia, Azienda Ospedaliera di Cosenza, Presidio Ospedaliero “Annunziata” Cosenza, Cosenza, Italy
| | | | - Saveria Campisi
- Department of Talassemia, Siracusa Hospital, Siracusa, Italy
| | | | - Fiorina Giona
- Hematology, Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Lisi
- Unità Operativa Dipartimentale Talassemia, Presidio Garibaldi-Centro ARNAS Garibaldi, Catania, Italy
| | - Paola Giordano
- UOC Pediatria Universitaria, Università di Bari, Bari, Italy
| | | | - Aldo Filosa
- UOSD Malattie rare del globulo rosso, AORN A. Cardarelli, Naples, Italy
| | - Sarah Marktel
- Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Maroni
- Servizio di Immunoematologia e Medicina Trasfusionale, ASST Sette Laghi, Varese, Italy
| | - Mauro Murgia
- Centro Provinciale per le Microcitemia, Ospedale San Martino di Oristano, Oristano, Italy
| | - Raffaella Origa
- Ospedale Pediatrico Microcitemico, Università di Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Filomena Longo
- Hematology, Thalassemia and Congenital Anemia Center, Ospedale Galliera, Genova, Italy
| | - Marta Bortolotti
- Department of Oncology and Oncohematology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Raffaella Colombatti
- Dipartimento della Salute della Donna e del Bambino Azienda Ospedaliera, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Padova, Italy
| | - Rosario Di Maggio
- Unità Operativa Semplice Dipartimentale Talassemia P.O. Vittorio Emanuele, Gela, Italy
| | - Raffaella Mariani
- Rare Disease Centre - Hereditary anemias - ASST-Monza, S. Gerardo Hospital - University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Alberto Piperno
- Rare Disease Centre - Hereditary anemias - ASST-Monza, S. Gerardo Hospital - University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Paola Corti
- Pediatric Clinic Hemato-Oncology Department, University of Milano-Bicocca, MBBM Foundation, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy
| | - Carmelo Fidone
- Servizio Immunotrasfusionale, Azienda Ospedaliera Maria Paternò Arezzo, Ragusa, Italy
| | - Giovanni Palazzi
- Servizio Immunotrasfusionale, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Luca Badalamenti
- Biomedicina, Neuroscienze e Diagnostica avanzata, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | | | - Frédéric B. Piel
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gian Luca Forni
- Italian Association of Pediatric Hematology Oncology (AIEOP) Coagulation Disorders Working Group, Brescia, Italy
- *Correspondence: Gian Luca Forni
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