Analysis of anti-M antibody status and blood transfusion strategy in Hunan, China.

BackgroundBy analyzing the detection rate of anti-M antibody in patients with the MNS blood group system in the Hunan area, we aimed to explore its clinical significance and blood transfusion strategy.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients who had been confirmed to contain anti-M antibodies through serological methods such as the saline tube method and cassette anti-human globulin method.ResultsIrregular antibody screening tests had been applied to 94,452 patients, from which 652 results were positive. Among those positive patients, 93 cases were positive for anti-M antibodies, accounting for 14.26% of the positive rate of irregular antibodies; 11 cases had a blood transfusion history, accounting for 11.8%; 59 cases had a pregnancy history, accounting for 63.4%; and 2 cases had a transplant history, accounting for 2.2%. The patients with anti-M antibodies included 23 pregnant woman, accounting for 24.7%, and 19 tumor patients, accounting for 20.4%. A total of 66 cases were immunoglobulin M (IgM) + immunoglobulin G (IgG) class, accounting for 71.0%, 26 cases were IgM class, accounting for 28.0%, and 1 case was IgG class, accounting for 1.0%.ConclusionsThe detection rates of anti-M antibody in the Hunan area and unexpected antibodies in literature reports are mainly related to a pregnancy history, and the type of antibody is predominantly IgM + IgG class. The clinical significance of anti-M antibody cannot be ignored, and three media should be used for cross-matching of blood wherever possible to ensure the safety of blood transfusion.