Page 414 - Essential Haematology

400 / Chapter 29 Blood transfusion

Table 29.3 Clinically important blood group systems.

Frequency of Cause of haemolytic Cause of haemolytic
Systems (abbr) antibodies transfusion reaction disease of newborn
ABO (ABO) Almost universal Yes (common) Yes (usually mild)
Rh (RH) Common Yes (common) Yes

Kell (KEL) Occasional Yes (occasional) Anaemia not haemolysis
Duffy (Fy) Occasional Yes (occasional) Yes (occasional)
Kidd (JK) Occasional Yes (occasional) Yes (occasional)
Lutheran (LU) Rare Yes (rare) No
Lewis (LE) Occasional Yes (rare) No
P (PI) Occasional Yes (rare) Yes (rare)
MNS (MNS) Rare Yes (rare) Yes (rare)

Table 29.4 The ABO blood group system.

Naturally occurring
Phenotype Genotype Antigens antibodies Frequency (UK) (%)
O OO O Anti - A, anti - B 46
A AA or AO A Anti - B 42
B BB or BO B Anti - A 9
AB AB AB None 3

Ceramide glu gal gnac gal fuc H antigen

galnac
Ceramide glu gal gnac gal A antigen
fuc

gal
Ceramide glu gal gnac gal B antigen
fuc
Cell membrane

Figure 29.2 Structure of ABO blood group antigens. Each consists of a chain of sugars attached to lipids or
proteins which are an integral part of the cell membrane. The H antigen of the O blood group has a terminal
fucose (fuc). The A antigen has an additional N - acetyl galactosamine (galnac), and the B antigen has an

additional galactose (gal). glu, glucose.