Prevalence of immunoglobulin A deficiency in Chinese blood donors and evaluation of anaphylactic transfusion reaction risk.

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We investigated the incidence of immunoglobulin A (IgA ) deficiency in Chinese population .T he frequency of IgA deficiency , defined as a serum IgA level of <0 .05 mg dL (-1 ) , has been broadly studied in different ethnic groups . Individuals with IgA deficiency may form specific antibodies against IgA , which can cause an anaphylactic response when the patient receives an IgA-containing blood transfusion .A sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to screen for IgA deficiency and particle gel immunoassay used for confirmation . IgA antibodies were further detected by the DiaMed anti-IgA test in IgA-deficient blood donors .Of the total 22 ,609 healthy blood donors screened , only seven cases were confirmed as having IgA deficiency (<0 .05 mg dL (-1 ) ). Another seven cases displayed relative IgA deficiencies , with mean IgA concentrations ranging from 0 .39 to 3 .70 mg dL (-1 ) . Anti-IgA was identified in 2 of the 14 IgA-deficient blood donors whose IgA levels were <5 mg dL (-1 ) . Estimation of the theoretical risk for IgA anaphylactic transfusion reaction was 0 .009 %.The prevalence of IgA deficiency in Chinese is low . However , potential risks exist in performing blood transfusion to IgA-deficient persons , and measures should be taken to reduce IgA anaphylaxis .