Objective: Transfusion-associated acute lung injury (TRALI) and transfusion-associated circulatory
overload (TACO) are adverse transfusion reactions that are reported rarely, but they can cause
severe injury to the patient and show high mortality. In ...
Objective: Transfusion-associated acute lung injury (TRALI) and transfusion-associated circulatory
overload (TACO) are adverse transfusion reactions that are reported rarely, but they can cause
severe injury to the patient and show high mortality. In many cases, differential diagnosis between
the two can be difficult. The diagnosis of TRALI can be assisted by the detection of anti-HLA
(human leukocyte antigen) or anti-HNA (human neutrophil antigen) antibodies in the donors’ blood.
Among these, anti-HNA antibody testing is difficult to perform in most clinical laboratories due to
profitability or technical issues. It is necessary for the government to provide services or solutions to
help this problem.
Method: In 2018, as a research service project of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the
research team evaluated and introduced a luminex-based anti-HNA antibody test method so that it
can be performed for referral testing from medical institutions. In this study, we intend to continue
the referral service for anti-HNA antibody testing, and to newly introduce a HNA genotyping test
method in order to confirm whether the recipient has the corresponding granulocyte antigen when
anti-HNA antibodies are identified from the donor. In addition, we plan to establish a reporting format
and a sample transport system so that anti-HNA antibody and HNA genotyping tests can be
conveniently requested when reporting TRALI or TACO through the Korean hemovigilance system.
Results: A total of 12 anti-HNA antibody tests were requested during the study period. Of these,
anti-HNA-4a was detected in two cases where TRALI was suspected. For HNA genotyping, a
PCR-SSP-based test method was selected and validation was conducted on blood samples from 200
voluntary donors. The frequency of major alleles was HNA-1a 51.2%, HNA-1b 48.8%, and HNA-3a.
62.9%, HNA-3b 37.1%, HNA-4a 100.0%, HNA-4b 0.0%, HNA-5a 81.8%, and HNA-5b 18.2%. The report
form for pulmonary adverse reactions of the Korean hemovigilance system was completely revised to
reflect the recently revised TRALI and TACO reporting criteria, and so that the reporter could
intuitively recognize the reporting standards for each adverse reaction. New options will be created
on the website so that the reporter can select if they want to request a referral test for anti-HNA
or HNA genotyping. The help of an institute with a nationwide transportation network was organized
for efficient sample transportation,
Conclusion: Through support of referral testing services for anti-HNA antibodies and HNA genotyping,
the foundation was laid to contribute to the differential diagnosis of TRALI and TACO. Basic data on
the genetic distribution of HNA in Koreans were also obtained. It would be necessary to review
whether further measures such as exclusion of blood donation in the future are needed for donors
with confirmed anti-HNA antibodies.