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Evidence for Heterogeneity of LW Antigen Revealed in a Family Study
Author(s) -
Swanson J. L.,
Azar M.,
Miller J.,
McCullough J. J.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
transfusion
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.045
H-Index - 132
eISSN - 1537-2995
pISSN - 0041-1132
DOI - 10.1111/j.1537-2995.1974.tb04563.x
Subject(s) - abo blood group system , antibody , blood type (non human) , biology , genetics
An inbred family (Wald.) with three apparently LW negative members in two generations is described in this report. Studies of the red blood cells of these LW negative family members with a variety of anti‐LW reagents establishes that the VW‐Wald. category is a weak LW variant. Wald. red blood cells react weakly with the anti‐LW of Bige., but are negative with that of VW. An analogy may be made between the LW, ABO, and P systems. LW negative (lwlw) of the Bige. type corresponds to group O or pp. Weak LW positive or VW‐Wald. type corresponds to A 2 and P 2 . Normal LW positive corresponds to A 1 and P 1 . The antibody made by lwlw individuals may be comparable to the anti A + A 1 of group O and anti P + P 1 of pp. The antibody made by weak LW positive or VW type may be comparable to the anti A 1 of A 2 and anti P 1 of P 2 individuals. It is suggested that donors and patients now classified as LW negative be characterized as Bige. or VW types until more precise nomenclature is defined.