Blood Transfusions Flashcards
What do blood groups tell you?
The antigen that is present on the surface of erythrocytes
What class are the antibodies present in the plasma for blood groups?
IgM
At what temperature is IgM reactive?
37 degrees celsius
What are IgM antibodies capable of if incompatible blood is given or produced?
Potentially fatal haemolysis
How are A and B antigens on red cells formed?
Formed by adding one or the other sugar residue onto a common glycoprotein and fucose stem (H antigen) on the red cell membrane.
A gene
Codes for an enzyme that add N-acetyl galactosamine to the common H antigen
B gene
Codes for an enzyme that add galactose to the common H antigen
Which blood group is safe to give to anyone in an emergency, until the patient’s own group is known?
Group O blood because it has no ABO antigens.
O negative
What happens if red cells are incompatible with blood?
So if a patient is group B, they have anti-A antibodies present in their plasma. If you then add group A red cells - agglutination is seen (visual agglutination) which shows that these red cells are incompatible with the patients blood.
What is the most important antigen in the Rhesus system?
D antigen
What antibodies does RhD positive people make?
None
Frequency in UK population ( 85%)
When can people who are RhD negative make anti-D antibodies?
After they have been exposed to the RhD antigen - either by:
Transfusion of RhD positive blood
In women if they are pregnant with an RhD positive foetus
What class are anti-D antibodies?
IgG class antibodies
If an RhD negative patient has been given RhD positive blood what is the implication for any of their future transfusions?
Patient must be given RhD negative blood in the future otherwise their anti-D antibodies would react with the RhD positive blood causing the delayed haemolytic transfusion reaction with anaemia; high bilirubin (from breakdown of red blood cells); jaundice etc.
What is the pathophysiology of Haemolytic disease of the newborn?
Mother is RhD negative and has anti-D antibodies (sensitisation), then in her next pregnancy, if the foetus is RhD positive, the mother’s IgG anti-D antibodies can cross the placenta and attach to the RhD positive red cells of foetus and cause haemolysis of foetal red cells.
In severe cases of HDN what happens to the baby?
Hydrops fetalis and deaths
In less severe cases of HDN what happens to the baby?
Baby survives, but high bilirubin levels can cause brain damage or death
What class of antibodies can cross the placenta?
IgG