Determination and Successful Transfusion of Anti-Gerbich-Positive Red Blood Cells in a Patient with a Strongly Reactive Anti-Gerbich Antibody.

Background: The clinical relevance of antibodies directed against members of the Gerbich (GE) family of antigens is not invariably clear. Given the scarcity of serologically compatible red blood cells (RBC), various methods may have to be applied to assess the safety of transfusing serologically incompatible RBC. Patient and Methods: The serum of a 57-year-old male Caucasian admitted to hospital for gastrectomy was found to contain a highly reactive anti-GE2 antibody (IgG(1)). In addition to a monocyte monolayer assay, 50 ml of GE2-positive RBC were transfused, and blood samples were taken before and 1 and 24 h after transfusion for flow-cytometric determination of transfused cells. Results: Both tests showed no increased destruction of GE2-positive RBC. The transfusion of 4 units of GE2-positive RBC was well tolerated, and hemoglobin increased adequately. Conclusion: This case may extend the information available not only on antibodies directed against members of the GE family of antigens but also on methods to estimate the survival of transfused RBC. Copyright 2000 S. Karger GmbH, Freiburg