Serum Blood Group Substances and ABO Haemolytic Disease

Abstract

Summary: The passage of incompatible maternal anti‐A and anti‐B isoagglutinins across the placenta can cause haemolysis of foetal erythrocytes. This occurs almost entirely in group A or B infants born to a group O mother, but only one in five such infants shows evidence of a mild haemolytic disease. This suggests that there must be factors protecting the foetal red cells against incompatible maternal antibody. The investigation described here suggests that one such factor is the presence of blood group substances in foetal serum. In an investigation of the amount of A‐substance present in the cord blood of group A infants, significantly greater amounts were found in secretors than in non‐secretors. Also, in group A secretor infants, the amounts of A substance in the cord blood of infants with group O mothers was diminished in comparison with those with group A mothers. These findings are compatible with the idea that some of the A‐substance in the serum of the group A infants with O mothers had combined with maternal anti‐A agglutinin and had been removed from the circulation. This supports the suggestion that blood group substances in cord serum protect the foetal erythrocytes from incompatible maternal antibodies.

Whole blood versus red cells and plasma for exchange transfusion in ABO haemolytic disease

“…When the selected fresh plasma according to the babies' ABO blood group types was used, additional anti‐A or anti‐B antibodies, targeting babies' red cells, have not been introduced. Although colloid or crystalloid replacement rather than plasma may seem to be advantageous in terms of infectious agent transmission and immunological reactions that may be caused by the infusion of donor‐derived antibodies, A or B blood group substances, existing in the selected plasma, may play an additional neutralization role on the remaining maternal antibodies in the babies' circulation (Hostrup, 1963; Denborough et al ., 1969). When we had investigated the factors affecting re‐exchange risk, the most important factor was found to be the blood type.…”

The Secretion of A, B, H and Lewis Blood Group Substances in the Gastric Juice and Saliva of Chacma Baboons (Papio ursinus, Kerr) and Vervet Monkeys (Cercopithecus pygerythrus, Cuvier)

“…The titre of A, B, H blood group substances in the saliva and gastric juice was assessed by the doubling dilution agglutination‐inhibition test. [4] The anti‐A reagent had a titre of 128 when tested with A 2 cells, and the anti‐B had a titre of 256. Both were diluted 1 in 10 with saline before use.…”

“…[4] The anti-A reagent had a titre of 128 when tested with A2 cells, and the anti-B had a titre of 256. Both were diluted 1 in 10 with saline before use.…”

The interaction of concanavalin A with blood-group-substance glycoproteins from human secretions

“…Determination of blood-group substances. The amount of ABH blood-group substances in samples of fractionated secretions was assessed by doubling-dilution agglutination-inhibition tests as described by Denborough, Downing & Doig (1969). Lewis activity was measured by Dr Simmons of The Commonwealth Serum Laboratories, Parkville, Vic., Australia.…”