On the Relationship of the Blood Group Antigens

S 193 raffinose were found to be the most potent. N agglutination and panagglutination after dialysis were found to be inseparable properties of the lectin, and the authors agree with an earlier suggestion that lectin agglutination may be dependent upon the metabolic selective carbohydrate-binding power of some plant proteins. One of the authors was allergic to the seed powder; precautions are advised.-R. R. AN RH BLOOD FACTOR rhi ( CE ) AND ITS RELATION TO hr ( CE ) . R. E. Rosenfield and Gladys V. Haber. Froni the Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, and the New York City Department of Health, New York, N. Y. Am.J. Human Genet. 10:474-480, 1958. An Rh antigen produced by the Rh alleles R1 and r’ has been termed rhi, the “i” substituting for both “one” and “prime.” This specificity had been encountered by others in I 954 and attributed to “position effect” on C, but the anti-rhi now reported contains no anti-rh’ ( C ) . The use of anti-rhi does not increase the number of Rh genotypes ( barring exceptional reactions ) but does increase the number of phenotypes that can be recognized. The new antigen is related to the Rh antigen “f,” and both, by substituting for hr” ( e), contrast with each other and with rh” ( E ) . Because of this relationship, and because of insufficient evidence to justify a separate locus, f, the antigen “f” has been reconsidered as hr ( ce ). An antibody cross reacting with both hr’ (c) and rh” ( E ) is termed hri ( c or E ) because it yields reactions antithetical to those of anti-rhi ( Ce). This report uses both Rh-Hr and CDE notations, and it is apparent that no notations for the Rh system will ever be simple-B. R. THE RHESUs ANTIBODY, ANTI E. THREE CASES, INCLUDING ONE PROBABLY OCCURRING NATURALLY. D. W. Huestis and A. Bates. Am.J.Clin.Path. 30:391-396, 1958. A report of three cases of anti E antibody: In the first patient the antibody was associated with hemolytic anemia due to lymphoma. Two antibody components were present: ( a ) incomplete autoantibody which was depressed by steroids, and ( b ) saline active, probably naturally occurring, anti E antibody, not affected by steroids. In the second patient the presence of the antibody was due to sensitization of pregnancy and in the third case due to multiple blood transfusions. Serum electrophoresis revealed an increase of gamma globulin fractions in all three cases, but there was no decrease of gamma globulin after specific absorption of anti E antibody.-W. J. M. Tm SECOND AUSTRALIAN ExAMPLE OF ANTI-S ASSOCIATED WITH THE MNSs BLOOD GROUPS. M. L. Verso and R. T. Simmons. From the Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service ( Vietorian Division ) , Commonwealth Serum Laboratories, Melbourne. Med.J.Australia. 2: 286-288, 1958. The literature on the S factor is reviewed briefly and the characteristics of the second Australian example of anti-S are described. The antibody gave weak agglutination with S-positive cells suspended in glucose-citrate and strong agglutination with cells suspended in albumin or albumin-fortified plasma. The indirect Coombs test and the Polyvidone ( P. V. P. ) test gave negative results when S-positive cells were tested against the serum containing the antibody. It is not possible to state whether the antibody was of the naturally occurring or of the inimune variety. The results of a survey with this serum on samples from 510 Australian blood donors are given. In this series 53.6 per cent were S positive, with gene frequencies of S = 0.32 and s = 0.68. The value of the S factor in medicine, genetics and anthropology is discussed briefly. Stress is laid on the importance of using methods of cross typing prior to transfusion that will reveal the less common, as well as the more common, antibodies. It is pointed out, once again, that the MNSs system is one of the most discriminating of all the blood group systems for distinguishing between two samples of blood.-G. C. de G. TRANSFUSION REACTION RESULTING FROM A LOW T pr.n ruis ISOANTIBODY ( ANTI-M). E. B. Reilly, S. J. Klein and I. I. Matrushima. Am.J.Clin.Path. 30:384-390, 1958. For personal use only. on September 13, 2017. by guest www.bloodjournal.org From