2023
Overview
Blood group incompatibility occurs when antigens on one person's red blood cells are recognized as foreign by another individual's immune system, triggering antibody responses that can cause harmful reactions. It is a central concern in transfusion medicine and obstetrics, because mismatches between donor and recipient, or between mother and fetus, can lead to hemolytic transfusion reactions or hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN). Incompatibility most commonly involves the ABO and Rhesus (Rh) systems, but other clinically important systems include Duffy (FY), Kell, and Kidd. The Duffy blood group system, for example, is implicated in transfusion incompatibilities and HDFN, and its phenotype distribution varies across populations. Safe transfusion and antenatal care rely on accurate blood grouping, antibody screening, and crossmatching, often using techniques such as standard tube methods. Understanding the prevalence of specific antigen phenotypes in different populations helps guide transfusion services and prenatal management. Open-access research provides peer-reviewed studies on blood group systems, antigen phenotyping, and the prevention of incompatibility-related complications.
Research published in this journal
1 peer-reviewed article, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.