The NHS is set to introduce a new genetic blood-matching test for thousands living with sickle-cell disease or thalassemia that could reduce painful side-effects of transfusion treatments.
As it marks its 75th year, the NHS is to become the first healthcare system in the world to provide blood group genotyping – a detailed DNA analysis of each patient’s blood group – to more accurately match those in need of transfusions to donated blood.
The landmark new programme, delivered in partnership by NHS England and NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), will help ensure patients receive the best treatment for them, reducing the risk/impact of reactions to donor blood and the development of antibodies that attack the donor blood cells.
Sickle cell disease – which triggers intense pain after red blood cells become sticky, block vessels and restrict oxygen supply – is particularly common in people of Black African and Caribbean heritage. There are around 17,000 people living with the disease in England, with 250 new cases per year. These patients receive more than 10,000 units of blood per month through NHSBT.
People with thalassemia produce either no or too little haemoglobin, which is used by red blood cells to carry oxygen around the body, and this can cause chronic tiredness.
Thalassemia is mainly seen in those with an Asian and Southern Mediterranean heritage, with about 800 patients in England and less than 50 new cases each year. The test will also help patients living with other rare inherited anaemias.
The most common way to treat these conditions is via blood transfusion from donors.
Up to a fifth of patients (17%) can experience bad side-effects after a transfusion because of inadequately matched blood, with the main source of blood for transfusions being people with European ancestry.
These side effects can lead to transfusion reactions and make it difficult to find enough blood for future transfusions. The effects of this can be severe, leading to a patient’s condition deteriorating and in some very rare cases it can lead to death.
A similar programme for donors will eventually result in patients with sickle cell and Thalassemia receiving better-matched blood, reducing the development of antibodies and leading to better care for patients.
Although blood is matched to the right blood group – A, B, AB and O – there are small differences within these blood groups which means the immune system is triggered to produce antibodies to attack the new red blood cells.
To tackle this, NHS England is providing funding of almost £1 million to NHSBT to provide blood group genotyping in its specialised molecular diagnostics laboratory. Once a donor database is developed –– this will match all patients with Sickle Cell and Thalassemia needing a blood transfusion more accurately, stop the development of antibodies and lead to better care for patients.
NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said: “This fantastic new programme will significantly transform care for people living with sickle cell disorder and thalassemia – by using blood group genotyping, harmful side effects of transfusions will be reduced, hugely boosting patients’ quality of life.
“These conditions can be deeply debilitating and we know the barriers that this patient group can often face when accessing care – as this new programme shows, we are determined to continue to make improvements and do everything we possibly can to help these patients to lead normal lives.
“Throughout its 75 year history, the NHS has led the world in embracing innovation to transform care for our patients – this world first is just the latest example of this.”
