Korean J Blood Transfus.  2017 Dec;28(3):282-289. 10.17945/kjbt.2017.28.3.282.

A Survey of the Opinions of Transfusion Specialists on Transfusion Policy of Thalassemia Patients in Korea

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Korea.
  • 2Department of Laboratory Medicine and Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea. hhkim@pusan.ac.kr
  • 3The Division of Human Blood Saftety Surveillance, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju, Korea.

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Thalassemia patients are treated with chronic blood transfusion to relief symptoms. The prevalence of thalassemia in Korea has been increasing recently in response to an increase in the number of immigrants from Southeast Asian countries. Currently, there is no guidelines of blood transfusion outlined by the policy of transfusion of thalassemia, like other inherited hemolytic anemia. Herein, we survey the opinion of transfusion specialists about the policy of blood transfusion of thalassemia in Korea.
METHODS
E-mail survey was conducted between July and September of 2017; a total of 40 laboratory medicine specialists working at a general hospital and participating transfusion medicine were included. The questionnaire consisted of blood transfusion experience and blood transfusion policy in patients with thalassemia.
RESULTS
Finally, 36 (90%) responders answered the questionnaire; of them, 32 (88.9%) agreed on the necessity of establishing a transfusion guideline for thalassemia patients, and 2 (5.6%) conditionally agreed. Thirty-five (97.2%) respondents agreed on the need for extended matching of RBC antigens for blood transfusion in patients with thalassemia. Thirty-five (97.2%) specialists agreed on the need for extended matching of RBC antigens beyond ABO and RhD to include C, c, E, and e.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the transfusion guideline for thalassemia, including other inherited hemolytic anemia, is required in Korea. Extended matching of RBC antigens should be considered when developing such guidelines, at least C, c, D, E, e antigens of the Rh blood group are essential for extended matching of RBC antigens.

Keyword

Thalassemia; Blood transfusion; Surveys and questionnaires

MeSH Terms

Anemia, Hemolytic
Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Blood Transfusion
Electronic Mail
Emigrants and Immigrants
Hepatitis B e Antigens
Hospitals, General
Humans
Korea*
Prevalence
Specialization*
Surveys and Questionnaires
Thalassemia*
Transfusion Medicine
Hepatitis B e Antigens
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