The Rh negative blood group reacts with the Rh positive blood group.Blood group AB does not react with groups A, B, AB or O.That is why people with type O blood are called “universal donors”. Blood group O reacts with groups A, B or AB, but can be used for transfusions with all other groups.Blood group B reacts with group A or AB.Blood group A reacts with group B or AB.This is because the immune reaction that is triggered causes the breakdown of red blood cells (haemolysis). The table below illustrates the compatibility of different blood groups for receiving and donating blood:Ī transfusion between non-compatible blood groups, both ABO and Rh groups, will generate antibodies that trigger what is called “acute haemolytic transfusion reaction”, which has serious health implications. Not all blood groups are compatible with each other, there is specific compatibility for both the ABO group and the Rh factor.
This generally does not pose any problem for the individual’s health it is only important for pregnant women. If this antigen is absent, the blood cell will be Rh negative.If this antigen is present, the blood cell will be Rh positive and will have no antibodies against this antigen, which is the most common scenario.Like the ABO system, the Rh (Rhesus) system, also called the D antigen, is based on the absence or presence of a certain antigen on the red blood cell membrane surface: Therefore, depending on the antigens that are present or absent in the red blood cells, we can identify 4 blood groups: Group A, Group B, Group AB and Group O. Allele O does not produce any type of antigen.Alleles A and B form type A and type B antigens respectively.These antigens vary depending on what alleles they comprise. As previously outlined, the different blood groups are determined by the absence or presence of certain antigens in the red blood cells. An allele is each of the forms in which the same gene can be expressed. The ABO gene has three alleles: A, B and O, and the blood type is determined by the presence or absence of these 3 alleles. Consequently, he discovered three different types of red blood cell antigens: A, B and O, a finding for which he later received the Nobel Prize. Landsteiner noticed that when two people’s blood was mixed, it reacted in two ways: either by clumping together and clotting, or by fusing together.
Up until that point, some human to human blood transfusions had been proven to be successful and others not, but the reason was unknown. The so-called ABO system was discovered by the Austrian pathologist and biologist Karl Landsteiner in 1901. The two most important and well-known antigenic systems are the ABO system and the RH system.
The antigens that are located on the cell surface form the various blood groups. Red blood cells: also called erythrocytes, they give the blood its distinctive red colour and are responsible for transporting oxygen and carbon dioxide.White blood cells: also called leukocytes, these cells are part of the body’s immune system, fighting infection and disease.Platelets: these cells do not have a nucleus and are involved in blood clotting when a blood vessel has ruptured.Blood types are determined by “antigens”, which are molecules found on the surface of red blood cells.Įach type of cell performs a different function: Blood is considered a tissue and consists mainly of red blood cells, platelets, and white blood cells. Do you want to know why? This post explains it all: The relationship between red blood cells and blood typesīlood is made up of different cell types suspended in a liquid called “plasma”. It is also very interesting to know how blood groups are inherited, a very common question asked in medical consultations. It contains vital information for situations such as blood donations, transfusions or pregnancies. Do you know your blood type? This is a question we should all be able to answer.
0 kommentar(er)
