Transfusion barriers

Blood groups as alloantigenic structures

There are many (>100) carbohydrate and protein alloantigens that may be recognized by antibodies of the patient. Excepted ABO, these are usually irrelevant to organ transplantation because they are not expressed on vascular endothelium. However, they may sometimes cause transfusion reactions and even haemolytic disease of the newborn. Read more...

The strongest barrier arise from the recognition by natural antibodies (ABO compatibility)

Rejection reactions - clinically manifest or silent - only start after about one week. However, the strongest barrier of blood transfusion is caused by the natural antibodies which react with A- or B-type sugar residues of the ABO histo/blood group system present on erythrocytes (strongly), on platelets and other cells (in lower amounts), and on endothelial cells (strongly; very important for vascularized tissue grafts). The reaction is the accelerated destruction of red blood cells in a transfused recipient which occurs during 24 hours (acute hemolytic transfusion reaction). Read more about ABO compatibility, natural antibodies and transfusion rules ...

Problems after repeated transfusions

The particularity comes from the diversity of blood group system. After a transfusion of incompatible blood, patient can develop antibodies against these incompatible blood groups. A second transfusion will thus only be possible with blood lacking the corresponding antigens. Read more...