CARACTERIZACIÓN DE ANTÍGENOS DEL SISTEMA RHESUS Y KELL EN CONCENTRADOS DE GLÓBULOS ROJOS DE LA HEMOTECA DEL HOSPITAL GENERAL AMBATO

Abstract

Erythrocyte compatibility is a fundamental aspect of transfusion medicine. Exposure to foreign blood antigens can trigger clinically significant immunological responses When incompatibility exists between donor and recipient. The Rhesus (Rh) and Kell blood systems have greater clinical relevance after the ABO system due to the high immunogenic capacity of their antigens. The C, c, E, e antigens and the Kell antigen (K) are implicated in alloimmunization processes, post-transfusion hemolytic reactions, and hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn. This investigation aimed to evaluate the frequency of the Rhesus (C, c, E and €) and Kell (K) system antigens in leukoreduced red blood cell concentrates stored in the blood bank of Hospital General Ambato IESS. An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional design with a quantitative approach was used. A total of 125 blood components were analyzed using the gel microcolumn hemagglutination technique. The results were processed using descriptive statistics. The analysis showed a predominance ofblood group O, followed by groups A and B; within the Rh system, antigens D and e recorded the highest frequencies. Seven phenotypic profiles were identified, of which DCcEe, DCe and DCce were the most frequent, with greater representation in blood groups O and A, while antigen K showed a low frequency among the analyzed units. These findings allowed the evaluation of the antigenic and phenotypic frequency of the Rh and Kell systems in the studied population, reinforcing the importance of extended erythrocyte phenotyping for the selection of compatible blood components for patients with a higher risk of alloimmunization.