Blood group discrepancies in leukemia children: A cross sectional study.

Objective: To Estimate the frequency of blood group discrepancies among Leukemia Children. Study Design: Cross Sectional study. Setting: University of Child Health Sciences, The Children Hospital Lahore. Period: October to January 2020. Material & Methods: This study was conducted among patients in CH and ICH Lahore, regarding ABO blood group discrepancies in leukemic patients, in the year 2019. A total of 200 samples were processed in order to detect ABO blood group discrepancies by tube method of blood grouping, using antisera-A, antisera-B, antisera-D for forward grouping and A-cells, B-cells and O-cells for reverse grouping. Auto-control was also run by reacting patient’s cell suspension with the patient’s own serum. The collected data were checked for its completeness, consistency and accuracy before analysis. Results: In this study, a total of 200 subjects were included out of which 122 (61%) were male patients and 78 (39 %) were female. Most common age group was 6-10 years. ALL 157(78.5%) and AML 43(21.5%). Blood group discrepancy was found in 5 (2.5%) and all were of Group I. Conclusion: The study found that leukemia (ALL, AML) results in ABO discrepancies that must be resolved by proper serological workup. Both forward and reverse grouping should be performed to investigate the correct ABO blood group in leukemic patients and accurately matched blood must be transfused to these patients.