Sickle Cell Disease: Targeting Alloantibody Formation Reduction; Risk Factors, and Genetics
Sickle Cell Disease: Targeting Alloantibody Formation Reduction; Risk Factors, and Genetics
The focus of the study is the pathophysiological mechanism of allo-antibody formation after
 red blood cell transfusion in sickle cell disease patients.
The main objectives of this study are to study the role of the innate and adaptive immune
 response in allo-antibody formation and furthermore to identify the genetic and time
 dependent clinical risk factors on alloimmunization in SCD patients.

 Subjects without allo-antibodies, receiving a red blood cell transfusion, will be included in
 this study. At 5 time points blood will be drawn from these subjects. (T0: Before
 transfusion, T1: 1 day after transfusion, T2: 1 week after transfusion, T3: 4 weeks after
 transfusion, T4: 6 months after transfusion).

 At each time point specific markers of the immune system will be measured.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Sickle cell disease

 -  Receiving a red blood cell transfusion

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Previous positive screen for allo-antibodies

 -  >25 red blood cell units in the past