HLA antibodies and blood donation

[Hillbeans]

Can someone please explain (in simple terms) what HLA antibodies are and what effect it may have in terms of future blood donations? I googled it and its sort of technical. Thanks in advance!

 

[Suger Mag]

Can someone please explain (in simple terms) what HLA antibodies are and what effect it may have in terms of future blood donations? I googled it and its sort of technical. Thanks in advance!

This might help a bit

http://hospitals.unitedbloodservices.org/forms/BS_929.pdf

HLA antigens are a broad class of molecules that are found on the surface of your cells. There are different types of HLAs. In a very simple terms they are used by your immune system for identifying cells that are abnormal or infected by a virus etc.

HLA antibodies (and antibodies in general) are made by your immune system to bind to the antigens. HLA Antibodies bind to HLA antigens. Antibodies circulate in your body fluids, thus if you have HLA antbodies they are found in your plasma/blood. They are not harmful to you... but can cause a reaction, which is why they are screening for them.

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

Can someone please explain (in simple terms) what HLA antibodies are and what effect it may have in terms of future blood donations? I googled it and its sort of technical. Thanks in advance!

I have HLA B27 and it never effected giving blood.

 

[3CW]

Can someone please explain (in simple terms) what HLA antibodies are and what effect it may have in terms of future blood donations? I googled it and its sort of technical. Thanks in advance!

Hi! I'm a clinical lab scientist (the field that includes blood banking) so maybe I can help.

HLAs (human leukocyte antigens) are proteins that sit on the surface of all your cells. When the cell gets infected by bacteria or a virus, those proteins basically become a "flag", presenting that infecting thing to the rest of your body. This lets one type of white blood cell spot the infection and get busy making antibodies to the bacteria or virus, and tells another type of white blood cell, "Hey, I've been compromised; come destroy me before this infecting thing uses me to replicate even more."

Now, how do we get antibodies to HLAs? Generally, pregnancy or blood transfusions - basically, exposure to someone else's HLAs that aren't our own. Mostly everyone's are a little bit different - that's why bone marrow/stem cell transplants (well, really any transplants) must be HLA-matched to cause as little rejection as possible.

Why does this matter for blood donation? Well, if you have an HLA antibody, it is now circulating in your plasma (the liquid part of your blood that's not your blood cells). If your plasma is given to someone else, the antibody in that plasma could attack their cells and cause a potentially life-threatening transfusion reaction. So it's definitely something you want to let the blood bank know when you go to donate so they don't give your plasma to anyone. In fact, it's becoming more and more common not to use plasma from any woman who's had more than one pregnancy because of the increased risk of HLA antibodies

But you can absolutely still safely donate packed red blood cells. Blood donations are routinely split into plasma, packed red blood cells, and platelets (which are suspended in a bit of plasma). Any center who accepts your donation would just throw out your plasma & platelets, or donate them to a research center that studies HLA antibodies.

Hope this helps! If anything was clear as mud, or if you have more questions, just let me know!