ArticleJournal of blood medicine2026
The Distribution of Kell Blood Group Antigens and Phenotypes (K and k) Among Saudi Blood Donors of King Abdulaziz Medical City - Western Region: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Article in Journal of blood medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
Purpose: The Kell (KEL) blood group system is one of the most clinically significant red blood cell antigens due to the K antigen's high immunogenicity and involvement in transfusion reactions as well as hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN). This study aims to assess the prevalence of K (KEL1) and k (KEL2) antigens, along with their associated phenotypes, among Saudi blood donors at King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC), Jeddah, and to compare findings with regional data in Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 19,769 Saudi blood donors at KAMC-Jeddah. Using standard immunohematological techniques, donor samples were screened for K and k antigens. Antigen and phenotype frequencies were calculated and compared with published Saudi studies. Statistical analysis was performed to assess differences in antigen and phenotype prevalence between Saudi populations. Results: The K antigen was detected in 13.93% of donors, whereas 98.92% expressed the k antigen. The most common KEL phenotype was K-k+, accounting for 86.07% of the population, followed by K+k+ (12.85%) and K+k- (1.07%). The K-k- phenotype was found to be exceedingly rare at 0.005%. Comparative analysis demonstrated statistically significant differences in K antigen prevalence between the current cohort and donor populations from Central (KAMC-Riyadh) and Southwestern (Jazan) regions, whereas no notable variations were observed when compared with Makkah and Jeddah within the Western region. The k antigen remained consistently prevalent across all regions. Notably, this study represents one of the largest cohorts reported in Saudi Arabia and identifies a rare K-k- phenotype within the donor population. Conclusion: This study provides a comprehensive assessment of Kell antigen and phenotypic distribution among Saudi blood donors. By reinforcing regional variation as well as the predominance of the k antigen, the findings offer valuable baseline information to support transfusion practices, particularly for transfusion-dependent populations.
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