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Other Blood Group Systems Univ Missppi STUDENT
Other Blood Group Systems Univ Missppi STUDENT
Other Blood Group Systems Univ Missppi STUDENT
Systems
REMAN A. ALINGASA, RMT
Facts
Over 200 blood antigens exist!
Unfortunately, we only get to review the
most relevant antigens
We will discuss each of these major
antigens, their antibodies, and the clinical
significance of each
Major Blood Group Systems
Lewis
I
P
MNSs
Kell
Kidd
Duffy
Basic terms to remember
Clinical significance: antibodies that are
associated with decreased RBC survival
Transfusion reactions
HDN
Not clinically significant: antibodies that do
not cause red cell destruction
Cold reacting antibodies: agglutination best
observed at or below room temp.
Warm reacting antibodies: agglutination best
observed at 37°C
Systems that
Produce Cold-
Reacting Antibodies
Lewis Antigens
Soluble antigens produced by tissues and
found in body fluids (plasma)
Adsorbed on the RBC
Lewis substance
adheres to RBC
becoming an antigen
RBC
Le substance
in plasma
Le
genes
Lewis inheritance
Lewis system depends on Hh, Se, and Le
genes
le, h, and se do not produce products
If the Le gene is inherited, Lea substance
is produced
Le, H, and Se genes must ALL be inherited
to convert Lea to Leb. Examples:
Le se H Le(a+b-)
Le Se H Le(a-b+)
le H se Le(a-b-)
le hh se Le(a-b-)
Lewis Antibodies
Usually occur naturally in those who are Le(a-b-)
Other phenotypes RARELY produce the antibody
IgM (may fix complement, becoming hemolytic)
Enzymes enhance activity
May be detected soon after pregnancy because
pregnant women may temporarily become Le(a-b-)
No clinical significance…Why?
Le antibodies in a patient can be neutralized by the Lewis
antigens in the donor’s plasma (cancel each other out)
do not cause HDN because they do not cross placenta
(antigens not developed well in cord blood)
Le(a-b-)
I antigens
These antigens may be I or i
They form on the precursor chain of RBC
Newborns have i antigen
Adults have I antigen
i antigen (linear) converts to I (branched)
as the child matures (precursor chain is
more linear at birth) at about 18 months
I antibodies
Most people have autoanti-I (RT or 4°C)
Alloanti-I is very rare
Cold-reacting (RT or below) IgM antibody
Clinically insignificant
Can attach complement (no hemolysis unless it
reacts at 37°)
Prewarming the tests can eliminate reactivity
Enzymes can enhance detection
I antibodies
Anti-I often occurs as anti-IH
This means it will react at different
strengths with reagent cells (depending on
the amount of H antigen on the RBC)
O cells would have a strong reaction
A cells would have a weaker reaction
Anti-I antibodies
Anti-I:
Associated as a cause of Cold Agglutinin
Disease (similar to PCH)
May be secondary to Mycoplasma
pneumoniae infections
Anti-i:
rare and is sometimes associated with
infectious mononucleosis
P Antigen
Similar to the ABO system
The most common phenotypes are P1 and
P2
P1 – consists of P1 and P antigens
P2 – consists of only P antigens
Like the A2 subgroup, P2 groups can
produce anti-P1
75% of adults have P1
P1 Antigen
Strength of the antigen decreases upon
storage
Found in secretions like plasma and
hydatid cyst fluid
Cyst of a dog tapeworm
P antibodies
Anti-P1
Naturally occurring IgM
Not clinically significant
Can be neutralized by hydatid cyst fluid to reveal more
clinically significant antibodies
Anti-P
Produced in individuals with paroxysmal cold
hemoglobinuria (PCH)
PCH – IgG auto-anti-P attaches complement when cold
(fingers, toes). As the red cells circulate, they begin to
lyse (releasing Hgb)
This PCH antibody is also called the Donath-
Landsteiner antibody
MNSs Blood System
4 important antigens (more exist):
M
N
S
s
U (ALWAYS present when S & s are inherited)
M & N located on Glycophorin A
S & s and U located on Glycophorin B
Remember: Glycophorin is a protein that
carries many RBC antigens
MNSs Antigens
RBC
N+ 75 72
S+ 30.5 55
s+ 94 89
U+ 99 99.9
High-incidence antigen
Thought…..
Can a person have NO MNSs antigens?
Yes, the Mk allele produces no M, N, S, or s
antigens
Frequency of 0.00064 or .064%
Anti-M and anti-N
antibodies
Demonstrate dosage
Anti-M and anti-N
IgM (rarely IgG)
Clinically insignificant
If IgG, could be implicated in HDN (RARE)
Will not react with enzyme treated cells
Anti-S, Anti-s, and Anti-U
Clinically significant
IgG
Can cause RBC destruction and HDN
Anti-U
will react with S+ or s+ red cells
Usually occurs in S-s- cells
Can only give U-negative blood units found in
<1% of Black population
Contact rare donor registry
MNSs Antibody
Characteristics
Antibody IgG Class Clinically
significant
Anti-M IgM (rare IgG) No
Anti-N IgM No
LIiPMABHN
Naturally Occurring
Warm antibodies (IgG)
Rh antibodies
Kell
Duffy
Kidd
S,s
Remember enzyme activity:
M&Ns
M&Ns
adapted from Clinical Laboratory Science Review: A Bottom Line Approach (3rd Edition)