Rh blood types

Rh blood types A blood group that involves 45 different antigens on the surface of red cells that are controlled by two closely linked genes on chromosome 1. Can lead to serious medical complications between a mother and her developing fetus if they are different (+ or -)—mother is Rh- and the father is Rh+. 

Carbon dioxide, a neutral species, passes through the red-blood-cell membrane into the cell. This transport is also facilitated by membrane transporters including proteins associated with Rh blood types. Carbon dioxide stimulates oxygen release by two mechanisms. First, the presence of high concentrations of carbon dioxide leads to a drop in pH within the red blood cell (Figure 7.20). 

Hospital in the early 1940s (most of the deaths occurred within the first few days of life). Since then, the cause of the problem was studied intensively and appropriate preventative measures were developed. Fig. P-73 shows the most common combinations of parental Rh blood types that... 

F g-.P -73. Combinations of parental Rh blood types and the possibility of Rh actor incompatibility. 

If you have type-0 blood, then you re very popular with the local hospitals and blood banks, because you re a universal donor. Approximately 45 percent of the population has type-0 blood, 40 percent has type-A blood, 11 percent has type-B blood, and 4 percent has type-AB blood. Along with the four blood types in terms of letters, you are either RH+ or RH-. So, technically, there are eight different blood types 0+, 0-, A+, A-, B+, B-, AB+, and AB-. 

The purpose of this study was to compare two electrophoretic methods used to type EAP and to examine the stability of EAP phenotypes in red cell hemolysates, clotted blood and dried bloodstains stored at room temperature (25°C). A distribution study of the frequency of five EAP phenotypes among ABO, MN, Rh blood groups and among 137 metropolitan Washington D. C. area residents was made. The effect of neuraminidase on EAP was also studied. 

A newborn male was the product of a 37-week gestation to a primagravida female whose blood type was O and Rh positive. During the pregnancy, the tests for syphilis and hepatitis B were negative. The pregnancy was uncomplicated, and the mother received excellent care. She denies alcohol consumption and does not smoke. 

The gestational age of the infant is a major factor in the development of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. The more premature the infant is, the lower the level of expression of the enzymes necessary for synthesis of conjugated bilirubin (discussed in the section on Hepatic Metabolism of Bilirubin) and the more likely the child is to develop jaundice. Babies are not routinely screened for the cause of jaundice until the condition manifests itself. Testing would be instituted early if there were a sibling who had experienced prolonged jaundice, or if the mother is blood type O or is Rh negative. All mothers who have good prenatal care are tested for blood type and Rh antibodies. This alerts the physician to potential problems and allows the physician to anticipate the most common forms of jaundice, namely, ABO incompatibilities. 

Type 0 is called the "universal donor" because the cells have no antigen to provoke a deadly antigen-antibody reaction. If the other blood factors (Rh factor, for example) are compatible, type 0 can be donated to people with the other blood types. 

Srivastava SK, Artemiou A, Minerick AR (2011) Direct current insulator-based dielectro-phoretic characterization of erythrocytes ABO-Rh human blood typing. Electrophoresis 32 2530-2540... 

Figure 4.5 Paper-based analytical devices fabricated by wax printing (a) simultaneous determination of blood typing (ABO) and Rh groups (Reprintedfrom Noiphung, J., Talalak,...

It may be seen from Fig. P-73 that only the combination of an Rh-negative mother and an Rh-positive father may lead to incompatibility. Even in these cases, the problem does not occur very often. Nevertheless, all couples should have their blood types checked to rule out the possibility of trouble. (A vaccine may be administered to prevent the formation of maternal antibodies if the potential for incompatibility is discovered early enough.)... 

Another type of cell surface antigen found on red blood cells is the Rh factor. Red blood cells that contain the Rh factor are referred to as Rh-positive and RBCs without this factor are referred to as Rh-negative. This antigen also stimulates antibody production. Therefore, Rh-negative individuals that produce anti-Rh antibodies should receive only Rh-negative blood. Rh-positive individuals that do not produce anti-Rh antibodies can receive Rh-negative or Rh-positive blood. Approximately 85% of Caucasians are Rh-positive and 15% are Rh-negative. Over 99% of Asians, 95% of American blacks, and 100% of African blacks are Rh-positive. 

In addition to being screened for likely pathogens, the ABO blood group and the Rh group is also determined. In the USA alone, in the region of 35 transfusion-related deaths occur annually due to errors in blood group typing or the presence of bacteria in the product. 

The Problem You have type B+ blood and need a blood transfusion. You can use either type-0 or type-B blood and can use either a + or - RH factor. What is the probability that a person selected at random can be a donor for you ... 

Type II hypersensitivity results from the formation of antigen-antibody complexes between foreign antigen and IgM or IgG immunoglobulins. One example of this type of hypersensitivity is a blood transfusion reaction that can occur if blood is not cross-matched properly. Preformed antibodies bind to red blood cell membrane antigens that activate the complement cascade, generating a membrane attack complex that destroys the transfused red blood cells. In hemolytic disease of the newborn, anti-Rh IgG antibodies produced by an Rh-negative mother cross the placenta, bind to red... 

The fact that blood grouping and/or typing antigens exist has been known since Landsteiner discovered the ABO system around 1900 (1). Since then over 246 published antigens have been found however, only three of these antigenic systems, the ABO, MN and Rh, have received crime laboratory acceptance (2). Until several years ago most crime laboratories did only ABO groupings however, with the improvements of specific antisera and the increased sensitivity of detection techniques, the MN and Rh systems have also been adopted as reliable systems. 

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