Anti-At^a in an African American Woman

ABSTRACT

Anti-At^a is a rare alloantibody, and its clinical significance has not been entirely clear. This case study reports the detection of Anti-At^a from a 43-year-old African American female who may require an organ transplant. The patient’s medical history is described, including the identification of the antibody and the suitable transfusion products for the patient. A brief review about this rare antibody is also included. Anti-At^a has been implicated as a cause of a clinically significant acute hemolytic reaction in adults, and almost all of the reported cases involve African American patients. However, there have not been adequate data to determine its clinical significance. The case presented here contributes to the study database of Anti-At^a antibodies. It should be of interest to health care providers whose patients are predominantly African American or of Caribbean ancestry. Proper health care management, such as registration to the American Red Cross Rare Donor Registry or blood donation, should also be encouraged in the African American community.