Blood transfusion Flashcards
What is the blood group?
The combination of RBC antigens presesnt
What is a blood group system?
A collection of one or more RBC antigens under the control of a single gene or a cluster of closely linked homologous genes
What are the most clinically significant blood systems?
The ABO and Rh blood group systems
How is the clinical importance of a blood group system determined?
Depends on the capacity of antibodies against the specific RBC antigens to cause haemolysis of RBCs
What is haemolytic transfusion reactions (HTRs)
The tranfused RBCs have the antigen which corresponds to the antibody in the patient’s plasma causing haemolysis
What is haemolytic disease of the fetus and the newborn
The fetus has an RBC antigen inherited from the father and the mother has produced an antibody to the fetal RBC antigen that has crossed the placenta.
How are ABO antibodies produced
Production is stimulated when the immune system encounters the ‘missing’ ABO blood group in foods or in microorganisms
What class are ABO antibodies?
IgM antibodies that do not class switch
How do IgM ABO antibodies cause acute HTRs? What does this result in?
- Activation of the complement system
- Massive intravascular haemolysis
Do ABO antibodies cause HDFN? Why, why not?
NO because they cannot cross the placenta.
How are acquired antibodies formed?
Acquired antibodies are formed as a result of active immunisation (alloimmunisation) to ‘non-self’ RBC antigens following exposure to RBCs from another individual. eg during non matched blood transfusion
What class are acquired antibodies?
IgG antibodies
Although most ABO antibodies are IgM, there can also be a small amount of naturally occurring IgG ABO antibodies in plasma. These IgG ABO antibodies can cross the placenta but don’t usually cause HDFN. Give 2 reasons why.
- Foetal red cells have poorly developed ABO antigens
- ABO antigens are found on numerous other cells
What type of HTRs to IgG antibodies cause?
delayed HTRs
- Cause mainly extravascular haemolysis but not massive intravascular haemolysis
Can IgG antibodies cause HDFN? Why, Why not?
Yes because they can cross the placenta
Which antigens does each blood group express on their RBCs?
There are 4 main blood groups within the ABO blood group system: A, B, AB and O.
- Group A individuals express A antigen on their RBCs
- Group B individuals express B antigen on their RBCs
- Group AB individuals express both A and B antigens on their RBCs
- Group O individuals express neither A nor B antigens on their RBCs
How are A and B antigens formed?
- By adding specific monosaccharides onto a common glycoprotein and fucose stem (the ‘H antigen’) on the RBC membrane.
- The monosaccharide added is determined by the corresponding gene
Describe the inheritance patterns of the ABO blood group system
A and B are codominant and O is recessive.
What does Landsteiner’s law state?
States that whichever ABO antigens are lacking on a given person’s RBCs, that person will always have the antibodies for these ABO antigens