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Serologic characteristics of H‐deficient phenotypes among Chinese in Hong Kong
Author(s) -
Mak K. H.,
Lubenko A.,
Greenwell P.,
Voak D.,
Yan K. F.,
Poole J.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
transfusion
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.045
H-Index - 132
eISSN - 1537-2995
pISSN - 0041-1132
DOI - 10.1046/j.1537-2995.1996.36111297091745.x
Subject(s) - saliva , ulex europaeus , serology , phenotype , immunology , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , antibody , chemistry , agglutinin , biology , lectin , biochemistry , gene
BACKGROUND: The occasional presence of H‐deficient red cells among both referred and donor blood samples prompted the mass screening of donated blood in Hong Kong for H‐deficient phenotypes; 96 percent of the donors tested are Chinese from the southern province of Kwongtung. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Donor blood was screened for H‐deficient red cells with the use of Ulex europaeus. Lewis phenotyping was carried out on all H‐deficient individuals, and saliva testing was performed on most such individuals. The thermal amplitude and potency of their anti‐H and anti‐HI in the serum were also estimated. RESULTS: Between 1984 and 1993, 28 H‐deficient blood donors were identified; 16 H‐deficient patient samples were also identified, and family studies revealed an additional 7 H‐deficient subjects. The H‐deficient red cells did not react with anti‐H lectin, the levels of ABH substances in saliva were normal or near‐normal, normal levels of A or B transferase were found in plasma, minute quantities of A or B (in persons who were genetically group A or B) were detected on the red cells, and anti‐H or anti‐HI was detected in the serum (about 66.7% of which reacted at 37 degrees C). Atypical anti‐A or anti‐B was demonstrated in 81.8 percent of the cases. CONCLUSION: The H‐deficient phenotype among the Hong Kong Chinese seems to represent a homogeneous group. Despite the presence of normal quantities of ABH substance in the saliva, anti‐H or anti‐HI that was active at 37 degrees C was detected in most cases. The incidence of the H‐deficient phenotype was 1 in 15,620.