A confusion in antibody identification: anti-D production after anti-hrB

It is well known that certain combinations of alloantibodies are frequently found together. Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) are mostly of African ancestry, and they may make anti-hr^B. A transfusion of hr^B–blood is often achieved by using e–(R₂R₂) RBCs; it is generally believed that hr^B–patients readily make anti-E or a“broad-spectrum” anti-Rh34 (-Hr^B). We describe two multiply transfused D+ patients with SCD and a history of anti-hr^B who subsequently produced anti-D. This raises the question whether anti-hr^B together with anti-D is a more common antibody combination than anti-hr^B with anti-E or anti-Rh34. Immunohematology2007;23:158–60.