Blood group substances A and B. Levels in placental and venous immune globulins

ABO blood group activities in human albumin preparations

By using hemagglutination-inhibition technique, A and B blood group activities were demonstrated in all of the tested batches of Plasma Protein Fraction and Human Serum Albumin prepared by one manufacturer in the period of 1975-1978; whereas all the tested batches prepared by other manufacturers were found to be free of blood group activities. With some batches of Plasma Protein Fraction prepared by the above-mentioned manufacturer, the presence A blood group activity was confirmed by the anti-A response in immunized rabbits. The blood group activities were localized in earlier fractions in Sephadex G-200 gel filtration analysis. The active principles were resistant to boiling for one hour. They were recovered in the aqueous phase by chilled buthanol treatment and could not be extracted with chloroform-methanol. These results seem to suggest that the blood group active principles detected in the albumin preparations are more likely of water-soluble glycoprotein nature than being glycosphingolipids.

Increased incidence of haemolytic disease of the new-born caused by ABO-incompatibility when tetanus toxoid is given during pregnancey

To determine whether tetanus toxoid given during pregnancy increases the risk of haemolytic disease of the new-born, 818 group O pregnant women were given one to three doses of tetanus toxoid during the third trimester. There was a significant increase in the incidence of neonatal jaundice among the ABO-incompatible infants of women given toxoid, compared to a control group. Comparative studies were also done at two hospitals: tetanus toxoid was not given during pregnancy at one hospital and was used routinely at the other. More of the mothers given toxoid had high titres of IgG anti-A or anti-B and more of their ABO-incompatible infants became jaundiced. Thus these studies suggest an increased risk of haemolytic disease of the new-born due to ABO imcompatibility when tetanus toxoid injections are given during pregnancy.