How much do you know about Rh blood group system?

The Rhesus (Rh) Blood Group System Lecture

• The Rh blood group system has over 45 antigens, making it the most complex system.
• The Rh genetics are controlled by autosomal codominant genes located on the short arm of chromosome 1.
• The D antigen is present in 85% of individuals, while the d antigen is present in 15%.
• The C antigen is present in 70% and the c antigen is present in 80% of individuals.
• The E antigen is present in 30%, while the e antigen is present in 98% of individuals.
• The presence or absence of the D antigen determines if an individual is Rh+ or Rh-.
• There are four different nomenclatures for the Rh system: Fisher-Race, Wiener, Rosenfield, and ISBT.
• The Fisher-Race theory has three closely linked loci, while the Wiener theory has only one gene locus with multiple alleles.
• The Rosenfield nomenclature assigns each antigen a number.
• The D antigen is extremely immunogenic and can cause severe hemolytic disease of the newborn.
• Weak D phenotype occurs in some individuals and requires further testing to determine the D status.
• Rh antibodies result from exposure to Rh antigens and can cause hemolytic transfusion reactions and hemolytic disease of the newborn.