Rare Rh E/e Negative Antithetical Antigens Found Only among Women with at Least One History of Pregnancy – A Maternal Phenotype (Novel)
I. Z. Isaac *
Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Science, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
O. Erhabor
Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Science, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
T. C. Adias
Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Science, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
R. T. John
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria.
A. S. Isezuo
Department of Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria.
O. I. Ajayi
Department of Physiology, University of Benin, Edo state, Nigeria.
A. Yakubu
Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Science, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Rh blood group antigens are hereditary characters inherited by Mendelian principle, and are useful in the population genetics study, in resolving medico-legal issues, in disease aetiology and more importantly in compatibility issues in transfusion medicine. This study was a descriptive cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence of rare Rh phenotype among patients requiring a red cell transfusion in a specialist hospital Sokoto.
Materials and Methods: Three millilitres of whole blood was collected from each of the patients and the red cells were screened for the presence of Rh antigens by Ortho Biovue system cassettes (AHG/Coombs) technique.
Results: In this study, the percentages of Rh D, C, c, E and e obtained were 97.3%, 24.3%, 92.2% 18.9%, and 93.6% respectively. We found no Rh null and no D deletion, however, rare Rh phenotypes were encountered among which were Rh Cc deletion and Rh E/e deletion. The Rh E/e Negative antithetical antigens encountered was 4.7% (DCc 1.0%, DC, 1.0% and Dc was 2.7%). And Cc deletion was also 4.7% (Dee, 1.3% and De, 3.4%). The Rh E/e negative phenotypes showed a statistically significant relationship with gender (p = 0.007), marital status (p = 0.002), history of pregnancy (p < 0.001) and ethnicity (p = 0.028). There was. However, no statistical significant difference found with Rh C/c negative phenotype. We also encountered no Rh e negative and Rh E/e negative among male patients, unmarried patients, Igbo patients and also Yoruba patients.
Conclusion: We conclude from this study that rare Rh E/e negative antithetical antigens are high in the study area and found only among women with at least one previous pregnancy, possibly caused by low levels of maternal hormones, suggesting a role of maternal hormones on rare Rh Ee negative antithetical phenotype.
Keywords: Rare Rh E/e negative, phenotype, Sokoto, Nigeria