Transfusion Significance of Lewis System Antibodies: Success in Transfusion with Crossmatch-compatible Blood

Abstract

Patients with nonhemolytic Lewis antibodies in the serum were transfused on the basis of major crossmatch compatibility alone. No adverse clinical affects were noted when 33 such patients received a total of 230 transfusions. Considerable savings in technologist time and reagent cost were realized by adopting this policy. Transfusion on the basis of crossmatch compatibility alone did not necessarily result in the selection of Le(a-) and/or Le(b-) blood for patients with corresponding antibodies in the serum. Crossmatch compatibility ratio for patients with anti-Leb in the serum was much higher than expected and was profoundly affected by the ABO group of the donors.