The Kell antigen, frequently associated with hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN), appears to be rare among Igbo descendants in Nigeria, according to a recently published study in Archives of Hematology and Blood Disorders.
“Kell blood group is associated with haemolytic transfusion reactions and haemolytic disease of the newborn, hence the need for proper screening to identify this blood group in patients,” the authors wrote.
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The authors aimed to assess the frequency of the Kell antigen in a population of Igbo natives in Nigeria. The Ibos comprise approximately 17% of the Nigerian population and are also one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa.
The study included samples from more than 200 individuals. Notably, none of the 200 subjects had the Kell antigen. The authors remarked that the results are comparable to previous studies, which showed a Kell prevalence of around 2.4% in the Ibo population. Other studies have reported Kell frequency over 20% in other Nigerian tribes like the Benin.
Approximately 0.6% of HDFN cases are due to Kell antigen incompatibility. It is present in approximately 9% of the Caucasian population and is rarer in Asian and African populations, with an average frequency of 2%.
“There is a dearth on research on Kell blood group system in Nigerian ethnic groups,” the authors wrote. “ This study is therefore important as it reveals evidence-based findings on distribution of Kell blood group antigens amongst Igbo descents.”
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