Blood groups and blood transfusions Flashcards
How many RBC produced every second?
2-3 million produced and released from the marrow every second
What is the lifespan of a RBC?
120 days
What do RBC have on their surface?
Antigens - several hundred are blood group antigens
What is the ABO system?
The ABO blood group system is used to denote the presence of one, both, or neither of the A and B antigens on erythrocytes.
How are ABO antigens inherited?
In a mendelian pattern (a gene inherited from either parent segregates into gametes at an equal frequency)
- Each group has a 25% chance of production
- A + B are co-dominant
- O is recessive to both
When are ABO antibodies developed?
- First true antibodies developed > 3months
- Mixture of IgM and IgG (active at body temp)
- IgM mainly for group A and B
What are the 4 ABO blood groups?
A, B, AB, O
What does having a blood group A mean?
A: dominant, 40%, has anti-B antibodies
What does having a blood group B mean?
B: dominant, 12%, has anti-A antibodies
What does having a blood group AB mean?
AB: Universal acceptor, 3%, no antibodies
What does having a blood group O mean?
O: Universal donor, 45%, no antigens but has both anti-A and anti-B antibodies
What are ABO antigens made of?
Carbohydrates not proteins
Where is the genetic locus of Rhesus antigens?
- On chromosome 1
- 2 genes
- RHD (coding for RhD)
- RHCE (coding for RhC and RhE
What does rhesus being highly immunogenic mean?
D is a null gene, so no protein therefore anti-d is not possible
D is dominant: DD, Dd
- High proportion of D neg people will form Anti-D if exposed to D positive blood
What is Rh Haemolytic disease
- Mother is Rh-negative with Rh-positive baby (From father)
- Rh-positive baby’s blood cells enter mother’s bloodstream
- Invading Rh-positive cells cause production of Rh antibodies
- Rh antibodies remain in mother’s bloodstream
- Rh antibodies attach the Rh-positive baby’s blood causing Rh disease