Two Examples of an Inseparable Antibody That Reacts Equally Well with DW+ and Rh32+ Red Blood Cells

Background and Objectives: Anti-D W is a rare specificity that detects an antigen on D Va red blood cells (RBCs). Some anti-D W contain an inseparable component that cross-reacts weakly with RBCs expressing the low-incidence Rh antigen Rh32. RH32 is expressed by RBCs with either the R= N or the DBT...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Vox sanguinis 1998-03, Vol.75 (3), p.230-233
Main Authors: Reid, Marion E., Sausais, Laima, Zaroulis, Charles G., Mohandas, Kala, Coghlan, Gail, Lomas-Francis, Christine
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Background and Objectives: Anti-D W is a rare specificity that detects an antigen on D Va red blood cells (RBCs). Some anti-D W contain an inseparable component that cross-reacts weakly with RBCs expressing the low-incidence Rh antigen Rh32. RH32 is expressed by RBCs with either the R= N or the DBT phenotype. Case Report: We describe here an antibody found in the serum of 2 patients that reacts equally well with RBCs possessing either D Va , R= N , or DBT phenotypes. The reactivity for D W and Rh32 antigens could not be separated by adsorption onto and elution from D W +Rh32– or from D W –Rh32+ RBCs. Conclusions: We suggest that amino acids encoded by nucleotides at the junction of exon 4 of RHD to exon 5 of RHCE may induce a conformation that is recognized by these equally reactive inseparable antibodies. Until such time that the epitope recognized by these antibodies is defined, we recommend use of the descriptive name anti-D W /Rh32.
ISSN:0042-9007
1423-0410
DOI:10.1159/000030992