Distribution of the K antigen among diverse ethnic and regional populations in Iran: Toward the development of a national data bank for multiply transfused patients.

Λεπτομέρειες βιβλιογραφικής εγγραφής
Τίτλος:	Distribution of the K antigen among diverse ethnic and regional populations in Iran: Toward the development of a national data bank for multiply transfused patients.
Συγγραφείς:	Sarihi R; Blood transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran; Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: rsarihi@yahoo.com., Bakhshandeh Z; Blood transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: z.bakhshandeh.2009@gmail.com., Oodi A; Blood transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: Ar.oody@yahoo.com., Amirizadeh N; Blood transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: Amiri_na@yahoo.com., Maghsoodlu M; Blood transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: maghsoodlu@yahoo.com., Namdar S; Blood transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: Sepideh.medicine@gmail.com., Hashemi V; Department of Laboratory Science, Faculty of Medicine, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh, Iran. Electronic address: hashemivi@yahoo.com., Azarkeivan A; Blood transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: azazarkeivan@gmail.com.
Πηγή:	Transfusion and apheresis science : official journal of the World Apheresis Association : official journal of the European Society for Haemapheresis [Transfus Apher Sci] 2026 Aug; Vol. 65 (4), pp. 104487. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jun 29.
Τύπος έκδοσης:	Journal Article
Γλώσσα:	English
Στοιχεία περιοδικού:	Publisher: Pergamon Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101095653 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1473-0502 (Print) Linking ISSN: 14730502 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Transfus Apher Sci Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s):	Original Publication: Oxford : Pergamon : Elsevier Science, c2001-
Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH):	Blood Transfusion/methods , Kell Blood-Group System , Blood Banks*, Humans ; Iran ; Female ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Ethnicity ; Male ; Blood Donors ; Blood Donation ; Duffy Blood-Group System ; Receptors, Cell Surface
Περίληψη:	Introduction: The K antigen of the Kell blood group system is clinically significant due to its immunogenic potential, with prevalence rates varying markedly among different ethnic and regional populations. In Iran, a country characterized by ethnic diversity, this variation presents challenges for transfusion medicine. This study represents the first comprehensive investigation of K antigen prevalence across Iran's key regions and ethnic groups, aiming to elucidate these differences. Understanding this distribution is essential for optimizing transfusion strategies, particularly in areas with a high prevalence of thalassemia. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study, conducted from 2020 to 2023, sampled 64,478 voluntary blood donors from nine provinces exhibiting high thalassemia rates, encompassing six major ethnic groups. K antigen phenotyping was performed using the Erythrocyte Magnetic Technique on an automated system (QWALYS 3, Diagast). Results: The overall K antigen prevalence among donors was 3.8%, with significant variation observed across ethnicities and regions. Notably, Khuzestan Province, representing the Arab ethnic group, exhibited a prevalence of 7.59%, considerably higher than the national average, whereas Sistan and Baluchestan Province, representing the Baluch ethnicity, demonstrated a low frequency of 2.2%. Other provinces, such as Semnan and Gilan, also displayed significant differences. Conclusion: This study reveals heterogeneity in K antigen prevalence across Iran, underscoring the need for region-specific transfusion protocols to mitigate the risk of alloimmunization. Furthermore, the findings provide a foundation for establishing a national donor database, which is critical for addressing the transfusion needs of vulnerable patient groups, particularly those with transfusion-dependent conditions, such as thalassemia. (Copyright © 2026. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)
Competing Interests:	Declaration of Competing Interest The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.
Contributed Indexing:	Keywords: Iran; K Antigen; Kell blood group system
Substance Nomenclature:	0 (ACKR1 protein, human) 0 (Kell Blood-Group System) 0 (Duffy Blood-Group System) 0 (Receptors, Cell Surface)
Entry Date(s):	Date Created: 20260714 Date Completed: 20260730 Latest Revision: 20260730
Update Code:	20260731
DOI:	10.1016/j.transci.2026.104487
PMID:	42447798
Βάση Δεδομένων:	MEDLINE

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Περιγραφή
ISSN:	1473-0502
DOI:	10.1016/j.transci.2026.104487