Formation of Anti-Rh Agglutinins Quiz

Study Notes

Anti-Rh agglutinins develop gradually in Rh-negative individuals when exposed to Rh-positive blood, peaking in concentration after 2 to 4 months.
Sensitization to Rh factor increases with multiple exposures, leading to stronger immune responses.

Adverse reactions can occur despite thorough blood component checks; most are not life-threatening.
Reactions can be immune-mediated (due to preformed antibodies) or nonimmune (related to blood component properties).
Common symptoms of transfusion reactions include mild discomfort, fever, and chills.

Immune-mediated hemolysis happens when the recipient has preformed antibodies against donor erythrocytes, primarily anti-A or anti-B antibodies.
Severe hemolytic reactions may arise from alloantibodies to other RBC antigens, such as Rh, Kell, and Duffy.
Symptoms include hypotension, tachycardia, fever, chest pain, and hemoglobinemia.
Vital signs monitoring is crucial during transfusions for early detection of reactions.

Mismatched blood leads to agglutination when anti-A or anti-B antibodies interact with A or B antigens on red blood cells.
Agglutination can cause clumping of red blood cells, plugging small blood vessels.
Hemolysis of clumped cells occurs over hours to days, releasing hemoglobin into plasma.

An Rh-negative individual without prior exposure to Rh-positive blood may not exhibit an immediate reaction during transfusion.
Anti-Rh antibodies can develop within 2 to 4 weeks post-transfusion, causing delayed reactions and hemolysis.

At least 30 common and hundreds of rare antigens exist on human RBC surfaces, with ABO and Rh systems most relevant for transfusion reactions.
Knowledge of blood groups is critical for safe transfusions, preventing hemolytic disease in newborns, resolving legal issues, and studying genetics.
The first blood transfusion was conducted by Richard Lower in 1665, and the ABO system was discovered by Karl Landsteiner in 1901, earning him a Nobel Prize in 1910.