The Distribution Patterns of Rhesus (Rh) Antigens

TL;DR

This study examines the prevalence of Rhesus antigens in blood samples to improve transfusion safety and reduce immune reactions.

Contribution

The study provides a detailed serological assessment of extended Rh antigens in a diverse sample population.

Findings

The O blood group was the most common (36.5%), and AB was the least (13.6%).

The e antigen was most prevalent, followed by D, while E was least common.

91.6% of samples were Rh D-positive, and 8.4% were Rh D-negative.

Abstract

Introduction: The determination of one's blood group is dictated by the inheritance-based diversity in the presence or absence of RBC antigens on the surface. Extended Rhesus (Rh) antigens are the most clinically relevant antigens of blood group systems after the ABO blood group system in transfusion medicine. The aim of this study was to serologically assess the prevalence of extended Rh antigens across diverse blood group systems.

Methods: A total of 2043 samples were tested for the ABO blood group and Rh typing with monoclonal antisera. The Rh phenotyping (C, c, E, e ) was performed on all the samples.

Results: The most frequently observed ABO blood group was O (36.5%), while AB (13.6%) was identified as the least prevalent. Positive Rh D antigen was found in 91.6% of tested samples, while 8.4% were Rh D-negative. The most frequently encountered antigen was e, followed by D, while the least prevalent was E.

Discussion: Establishing a Rh phenotype repository for blood donors and conducting Rh phenotype assessments as part of pretransfusion testing before initiating the initial blood transfusion for each patient could significantly lower the patients' incidence of alloimmunization.