ABO*Ael03/O Genotype with ABO Discrepancy: The First Case in Korea

Abstract

The Ael subgroup expresses the least amount of A antigens and could only be detected by performing the adsorption-elution test. The frequency of the Ael subgroup is about 0.001% in Koreans, and the Ael02 allele, which originates from A102, is the most frequently identified allele in the Korean population. We report a Korean family with the Ael03 allele identified by molecular genetic analysis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first such report in Korea to date.

Detection and phenotype analysis of a novel Ael blood group allele

“…Clinically, subtype A is divided into A1, A2, A3, Ax, Aend, Am and Ael according to decreasing number of A antigens [10], among which Ael subtype contains the least number of A antigen on the red blood cells. The reactivity of Ael red blood cells can be detected only by absorption‐elution experiments, and its serum does not agglutinate or weakly agglutinate with type A red blood cells, that is, A elution type [11–13].…”

Evaluation of kodecytes using function‐spacer‐lipid constructs as a survey material for external proficiency testing for ABO subgrouping

“…ABO blood grouping is a very important test, because it is directly connected with the success of transplantation and blood transfusion in patients. However, patients with weakly expressed A or B blood group antigens could be misidentified as having the O phenotype . If a blood donor with a weak phenotype was to be mistyped as having the O phenotype and his/her blood were transfused into a patient with the O phenotype, the transfusion could induce an increase in antibody titer or cause a hemolytic transfusion reaction.…”

“…However, patients with weakly expressed A or B blood group antigens could be misidentified as having the O phenotype. [1][2][3] If a blood donor with a weak phenotype was to be mistyped as having the O phenotype and his/her blood were transfused into a patient with the O phenotype, the transfusion could induce an increase in antibody titer or cause a hemolytic transfusion reaction. Although ABO genotyping can be helpful in establishing the nature of the weak phenotypes, numerous confounding factors exist that can lead to a discrepancy between the genotype and the observed phenotype.…”