ABH Receptors and Red Cell Survival in a ‘Bombay’ Blood

Abstract

Abstract. A Bombay blood group was detected in a 12‐year‐old Turkish girl with the rare Lewis type Le (a‐b‐). When using several phytohemagglutinins and Helix agglutinins (extracts from albumin glands of different snails), no ABH substances were detectable. However, after RDE treatment cryptantigens were demonstrable with anti‐HLa ( Laburnum alpinum ), anti‐BHEe ( Evonymus europaeus ), anti‐AHp ( Helix pomatia ), and anti‐T Ah ( Arachis hypogaea ). Similarly, by application of the indirect fluorescence antibody method, only cryptantigens were detectable by anti‐BHEe, anti‐AHP, and anti‐T Ah . Therefore, it was assumed that in Bombay cells only the surface antigenic sites are absent, whereas the cryptantigens are present. Survival studies with autologous transfused 51 Cr‐labelled cells showed a normal lifespan ( 51 Cr T/2 26d).