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In addition to the ABO and Rh groups, how many other known blood groups are there and do they rarely cause transfusion reactions?

1) Less than 10
2) Around 50
3) At least 100
4) More than 200

1 Answer

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Final answer:

There are at least 100 recognized antigens that constitute various blood groups in addition to the ABO and Rh blood groups. While these antigens are less likely to cause transfusion reactions compared to ABO and Rh mismatches, they are important to consider in blood transfusion scenarios for rare blood types or for patients who require multiple transfusions.

Step-by-step explanation:

In addition to the well-known ABO and Rh blood groups, there are numerous other blood groups recognized in human blood classification. Red blood cells are characterized by various surface antigens that can potentially be the source of transfusion reactions. However, aside from the ABO and Rh antigens, the likelihood of these other antigens causing a reaction is much lower, predominantly because they are less antigenic or the antibodies are not commonly present in sufficient amounts.

The human body has more than 100 different antigens that have been identified, which are grouped into 24 different blood groups. These include, but are not limited to, the Kell, Kidd, Duffy, and MNS systems. Each of these blood groups can contribute to compatibility issues in transfusions, but they are far less commonly encountered than the complications associated with ABO or Rh mismatches. Nevertheless, these additional blood groups are crucial when considering transfusions for patients with rare blood types or multiple transfusions, as it increases the likelihood of sensitization to these antigens.

Overall, among the options presented, at least 100 blood groups would be the correct answer to the question of how many blood groups there are in addition to the ABO and Rh groups.

User Loris Securo
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