Helicobacter pylori infection is recognized as being strongly associated with chronic gastritis, duodenal ulceration and, probably, gastric carcinoma. Seroepidemiological studies have shown that a large proportion of healthy people have antibodies against H. pylori. A serological study was conducted in asymptomatic healthy blood donors in Northern Peninsular Malaysia to assess the seropositivity for H. pylori and to investigate the relationship with ethnic group, gender, ABO blood group and age. A total of 5370 serum samples collected from 3677 male and 1693 female donors in different age groups, and who had no gastrointestinal complaints, were studied with an in-house ELISA for the presence of H. pylori IgG and IgA antibodies. Seven hundred and sixty subjects (14.2%) were seropositive. The overall seropositivity did not differ with ethnicity, gender, ABO blood group and age among asymptomatic healthy blood donors in Northern Peninsular Malaysia.
Immune haemolysis following renal transplantation has been reported and known causes include infection, medication and metabolic disturbances (1,2). Autoimmune haemolysis after renal transplantation secondary to ABO minor mismatch is an uncommon but important cause that should be considered in the differential diagnosis of post-transplantation haemolysis. A case of haemolytic anaemia caused by graft versus host antibody formation is presented. We suggest that direct Coomb's test should be done as a routine in all cases of ABO mismatch renal transplantation and red cells compatible with both donor and recipient or group "O" packed cells should be transfused if transfusion is indicated.