Blood Groups

Dr Ambika Jawalkar
 Discovered ABO Blood

group system in 1901
 Discovered Rh factor in
1930 along
with Alexander S. Wiener
 Noble prize in Physiology

or Medicine in 1930
KARL LANDSTEINER
(1886-1943)
•The differences in human blood are due to the
presence or absence of certain protein molecules
called antigens and antibodies.
•The antigens are located on the surface of the

RBCs and the antibodies are in the blood
plasma.
•Individuals have different types and

combinations of these molecules.
•The blood group you belong to depends on

what you have inherited from your parents.
• There are more than 20 genetically determined
blood group systems known today
• The AB0 and Rhesus (Rh) systems are the

most important ones used for blood transfusions.
• Not all blood groups are compatible with each

other. Mixing incompatible blood groups leads to
blood clumping or agglutination, which is
dangerous for individuals.
 If an antigen /agglutinogen is present on the
red cell membrane of an individual, the
corresponding antibody/agglutinin will be
absent in the plasma.
 If an antigen / agglutinogen is absent on the

red cell membrane of an individual, the
corresponding antibody / agglutinin will be
present in the plasma.
MAJOR MINOR
 ABO  MN
 Rh (Rhesus)  li
 P
 Lewis
 Duffy
 Kidd
 Kell
 Lutheran
 The most important in assuring a safe blood
transfusion.
 Is based on presence or absence of A & B
antigens on red cell membrane.
 There are 4 bloog groups according to this
system
 A, B, AB & O
Blood group A
If you belong to the blood
group A, you have A antigens
on the surface of your RBCs
and B antibodies in your
blood plasma.
Blood group B
If you belong to the blood
group B, you have B antigens
on the surface of your RBCs
and A antibodies in your
blood plasma.
Blood group AB
If you belong to the blood group
AB, you have both A and B antigens
on the surface of your RBCs and no
A or B antibodies at all in your
blood plasma.
Blood group O
If you belong to the blood group O (null),
you have neither A or B antigens on the
surface of your RBCs but you have both A
and B antibodies in your blood plasma.
• The table shows the four ABO phenotypes ("blood
groups") present in the human population and the
genotypes that give rise to them.
Blood Antigens
Antibodies in Serum Genotypes
Group on RBCs
A A Anti-B AA or AO
B B Anti-A BB or BO
AB A and B Neither AB
O Neither Anti-A and anti-B OO
Why do individuals produce antibodies to
antigens they do not have?
• The "A“ and "B" antigens are also produced

by some other plants and microorganisms.
Thus, individuals who do not recognize one or
more of these antigens as "self" will produce
antibodies against the plant or microbial
antigens.
• These antibodies will also react with human

antigens of the same kind whether introduced
via a blood transfusion or a tissue graft.
 The ABO gene locus is located on the
chromosome 9
 A and B blood groups are dominant over the
O blood group
 A and B group genes are co-dominant
 Each person has two copies of genes coding
for their ABO blood group (one maternal and
one paternal in origin)
The alleles for Blood
group are in the same
A place on the B
chromosome 9. However
the genes have a
different code giving the
different blood group FATHER
MOTHER
one alleles from Mother and one

from Father.
Possible Blood group Genotypes
Parent A B O
Allele
A AA AB AO
B AB BB BO
O AO BO OO
Rh antigen – C,D,E, c,d & e
 Some of us have it, some of us don't.
If it is present, the blood is RhD positive, if not it's

RhD negative.
So, for example, some people in group A will have

it, and will therefore be classed as A+ (or A
positive).
While the ones that don't, are A- (or A negative).
And so it goes for groups B, AB and O.

Rh antibodies
 No natural antibodies
 But are produced only when Rh+ blood is given to
a Rh- person
 Once produced they persist for years & can
produce serious reactions during 2nd transfusion
 85% of the population is Rh positive, the other

15% of the population is Rh negative
 In Blood transfusion
 In preventing hemolytic disease
 In paternity disputes
 In medicolegal cases
 In knowing susceptibility to disease
Group O- duodenal cancer
Gropu A- Carcinoma of stomach,
pancreas & salivary glands
 H antigen / H substance is absent
 first discovered in Bombay, now known

as Mumbai by Dr. Y.M. Bhende
 present in about 0.0004%

RBC
Glucose
H antigen Galactose
N-acetylglucosamine
Galactose
Fucose
 The H antigen is the foundation upon which A
and B antigens are built
 A and B genes code for enzymes that add a
sugar to the H antigen
 Immunodominant sugars are present at the
terminal ends of the chains and confer the ABO
antigen specificity
RBC
Glucose
Galactose
N-acetylglucosamine
Galactose
N-acetylgalactosamine
Fucose
RBC
Glucose
Galactose
N-acetylglucosamine
Galactose
Galactose
Fucose
 RBCs with no H, A, or B antigen (patient types
as O)
 Bombay RBCs are NOT agglutinated with anti-

A, anti-B, or anti-H (no antigens present)
 Bombay serum has strong anti-A, anti-B and

anti-H, agglutinating ALL ABO blood groups
 What blood group would you use to transfuse

this patient??
 Another Bombay
 Group O RBCs cannot be given because they still
have the H antigen
 You have to transfuse the patient with blood that
contains NO H antigen
 Occurs due to Rh incompatibility between mother
& fetus
 anti-A or anti-B antibodies are of the IgM class

(large molecules) and these do not cross the
placenta
 Rh antibodies are IgG type & can cross placenta

Possible
First pregnancy Anti-Rh+ subsequent
antibodies pregnancies
This happens when Rh- mother carries an Rh+ baby

 Erythroblastosis fetalis
 Icterus gravis neonatorum
 Kernicterus
 Hydrops fetalis
Prevention & Treatment:

• Injecting single dose of Rh antibodies (Anti-D) to
the mother soon after delivery
• Exchange transfusion
Blood transfusions – who can
receive blood from
whom?
People with blood group O

are called "universal
donors" and people with
blood group AB are called
"universal receivers."
 Blood Loss
 For quick restoration of haemoglobin
 Exchange transfusion
 Blood diseases
DONOR
RECIPIENT
 Absolute indication
 Cross matching
 Rh+ blood should never be given to Rh- person
 Donor’s blood should always be screened
 Bloodbg/bottle should be checked
 Should be given at slow rate
 Proper aseptic measures should be followed
 Careful watch on recipient’s condition
Cross matching
 Major Cross matching –

mixing of donor’s cells with recipient’s
plasma
 Minor crossmatching -
mixing of recipient’s cells with donor’s
plasma
1. Mismatch transfusion reactions
* Agglutination
*Tissue ischemia
* Haemolysis
*Haemolytic jaundice
*Circulatory shock
* Renal vasoconstriction
* Haemoglobinuria
* Renal tubular damage
* Acute renal shutdown
* Uremia
2. Circulatory overload
3. Transmission of blood-borne infections
4. Pyrogenic reaction
5. Allergic reactions
6. Hyperkalemia
7. Hypocalcemia
8. Reduced tissue oxygenation
9. Haemosiderosis
10. Thrombophlebitis
11. Air embolism
THANK YOU

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Dr Ambika Jawalkar

 Discovered ABO Blood

 Noble prize in Physiology

•The antigens are located on the surface of the

•Individuals have different types and

•The blood group you belong to depends on

• The AB0 and Rhesus (Rh) systems are the

• Not all blood groups are compatible with each

 If an antigen / agglutinogen is absent on the

• The "A“ and "B" antigens are also produced

• These antibodies will also react with human

one alleles from Mother and one

If it is present, the blood is RhD positive, if not it's

So, for example, some people in group A will have

While the ones that don't, are A- (or A negative).

And so it goes for groups B, AB and O.

 85% of the population is Rh positive, the other

 first discovered in Bombay, now known

 present in about 0.0004%

 Bombay RBCs are NOT agglutinated with anti-

 Bombay serum has strong anti-A, anti-B and

 What blood group would you use to transfuse

 anti-A or anti-B antibodies are of the IgM class

 Rh antibodies are IgG type & can cross placenta

This happens when Rh- mother carries an Rh+ baby

Prevention & Treatment:

People with blood group O

 Major Cross matching –

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