To detect the panel reactive antibodies (PRA) in children with β-thalassemia major by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for investigating the level of sensitization and clinical significance of transfusion dependant.

Fifteen patients with β-thalassemia major who were diagnosed in our hospital selected by randomized study,nine of them were male and the other were female, the mean age was 6. 15 ± 4. 01 years. 3 ml of peripheral blood was obtained from all the subjects, and serum were collected after centrifugation. Using Lambda antigen tray mixed (LATM) and Lambda antigen tray (LAT), the level and specificity of serum PRA were detected by ELISA.

Among the fifteen samples of serum, six of them were PRA positive, the positive rate was 40% ; while the intensity of positive PRA was ranged from 14% to 75%, the median was 47. 5%. The frequencies of blood transfusion were much more in PRA positive group than in that of negative group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0. 01). Moreover, the age of children and total time of blood transfusion were older and longer in PRA positive group than in that of negative group, respectively, and there were significant differences between these two groups (P<0. 05). However, no significant difference was found in the beginning time of transfusion between these two groups(P>0. 05). By Spearman analysis, there were positive correlations between the intensity of PRA and the following: frequency of blood transfusion, age of children, and total time of blood transfusion,(P<0. 05), except the beginning time of transfusion(P>0. 05).

The rate and intensity of positive PRA were quite high in children withβ-thalassemia major, and the effect may be more pronounced with increasing frequency of blood transfusion, age of child, and total time of blood transfusion. Serum PRA may be regarded as one of the reasons for the low engraftment in hematopoietic stem cells transplantation (HSCT) forβ-thalassemia.