Question

The reaction between mismatched blood groups occur because

Answer 1

The reaction between mismatched blood groups occurs due to antibodies in the recipient's plasma recognizing antigens on the donor blood cells as foreign, leading to agglutination and destruction of the RBCs, which can cause severe transfusion reactions and potential fatality.

Step-by-step explanation:

The reaction between mismatched blood groups occurs because of the presence of specific antigens on the surface of red blood cells (RBCs) and the corresponding antibodies in the plasma. When blood from incompatible groups is mixed, the antibodies recognize the foreign antigens on the RBCs as threats and bind to them, causing agglutination and hemolysis. This immune response is triggered because the body sees the antigens from the transfused blood as foreign, leading to the activation of the complement system, which enhances the immune reaction and may result in severe outcomes including clumped blood cells, restricted blood flow, damage to organs, and potentially death.

This was understood after the discovery of blood groups by Karl Landsteiner in 1900. Based on this discovery, it became possible to match blood types and prevent such severe transfusion reactions. If a person with type B blood receives type A blood, for example, the anti-A antibodies will attack the A antigens on the transfused RBCs, leading to clumping, inflammation, and destruction of the transfused cells—a process that can cause fatal complications.

Answer 2

Mismatched blood transfusions cause adverse reactions because the recipient's antibodies attack the antigens on the donor's red blood cells, leading to blood cell destruction and potentially fatal complications.

Step-by-step explanation:

The reaction between mismatched blood groups occurs because of the interaction between the antigens on the donor's red blood cells and the antibodies in the recipient's plasma. If a person with type B blood is transfused with type A blood, their anti-A antibodies will agglutinate the transfused red blood cells, and activate the classical complement cascade leading to a strong inflammatory response.

This immune response includes the destruction of transfused red blood cells through hemolysis, potentially obstructing blood vessels and can result in severe complications, such as fever, chills, hemoglobinuria, and possibly death. These severe reactions underscore the critical importance of matching blood types between donor and recipient to prevent life-threatening transfusion reactions. Blood type compatibility is key to safe transfusions, a concept first made possible to understand through the pioneering work of Karl Landsteiner in 1900.