T Majeed, A Hayee.
Prevalence of Anti-A1 Antibodies in A2 and A2b Subjects in a Population of Lahore.
Biomedica Jan ;15:85-7.

The purpose of this study was to detect the prevalence of anti-A1 antibodies in AZ and A2B subjects alongwith their thermal range and thus the role they could play in blood and platelet transfusion reactions, hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN), abortions and stillbirths, transplantation and graft rejections. The ABO blood group system includes A, B, AB and O blood groups. The subgroups of A, Al, AZ, AB and A2B were determined in 3,000 individuals mostly adult males and females from various parts of Lahore. Grouping was done by both tube and slide methods of Dacie and Lewis. A1 and A2 subgroups were detected by using anti-A1 lectin (Dolichus bitlorus). AntiAl antibodies in AZ and A2B subjects were detected by reverse grouping. They had a prevalence of 12.5% in AZ and 9.09% in A2B subjects and were usually cold antibodies, sometimes active at room temperature and occasionally at 37°C. From these findings it was concluded that the subgroups of A should be taken into account in any patient who requires repeated blood transfusions like patients with aplastic anaemia, leukaemia, thalassaemia and hemolytic anaemias. Thus it is wise to give blood of the specific sub-group if available, if not so one can give A1 blood to A2 patients and depend upon the cross-match to detect the development of anti-A1 antibodies.

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