Further Observations on the Verweyst Blood Group Antigen and Antibodies

Abstract

In 1954 van der Hart, Bosman and van Loghem reported two new rare blood group antigens, one of which they designated as Vw. Since then other examples have been found though not all reported. This paper reports a further family carrying the antigen and includes some new observations on the antibody.Early in 1956 samples of blood from two patients in a local hospital were received together with a bottle of group 0 Rh-positive citrated blood, difficulty having been found in cross-matching. Both patients' sera were said to react strongly with the donor's red cells, both in saline and b y the indirect antiglobulin method. Apart from this one bottle, however, no trouble had been found in getting compatible blood. One patient (M. W.) was a girl aged 3 years who had had severe burns and had had a transfusion of one pint two months previously, and a further half pint one month later. There was no history of reaction.The second patient (E. W.) was a woman of 66 admitted for an arthroplasty and had had one bottle of blood a week before. Both patients were group 0 Rh-positive.The hospital laboratory's tests were repeated and their findings confirmed. The direct antiglobulin test on the donor's cells was negative and no auto-agglutinins were detected. Both sera were tested against a panel of cells in saline and 20% albumin a t room temperature and a t 37" C., and by the indirect antiglobulin test, with negative results. This panel covered all the known common antigens.

The Duplication of the Gr (Graydon) Blood Group by Vw (Verweyst)

“…Four examples of anti-Gr were found in 1957 in 500 serum samples tested. Of these, 1 was group 0, 2 were group Aand 1 was group B, so that anti-Gr was not found exclusively within group 0, as the results of Darnborough [2] indicated for anti-Vw.…”

The Duplication of the Gr (Graydon) Blood Group by Vw (Verweyst)

“…Of these, 1 was group O, 2 were group A and 1 was group B, so that anti-Gr was not found exclusively within group O, as the results of Darnborough [2] indicated for anti-Vw.…”

“…Darnborough [2] reported investigations made on the Vw blood group. Two initial examples of atypical antibodies in group O patients were proved to be anti-Vw, and a subsequent search revealed 7 further examples in 211 sera of group 0, 138 of group A, 30 of group B and 13 of group AB.…”

Severe Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn due to Anti-Vw and Detection of Glycophorin A Antigens on the Miltenberger I Sialoglycoprotein by Western Blotting

“…Hemolytic disease of the newborn due to anti-Vw has been reported rarely, [4,13,14] and in only one previous case was the hemolytic disease severe [14], Although naturally occurring anti-Vw ist not uncommon, with an incidence of about 1 in 50 blood donors [15], the Vw…”