Discovery of new blood group type being touted as a potential life saver

While most of us are aware of our blood type, the recent discovery of a new group of blood types is being touted as a potential life saver.

Scientists say the new blood group called Er could help doctors understand health complications that arise when blood types are incompatible.

“The root of this story begins in the drama of some 30 or more people from different pockets of the world who experienced the adverse affects of those immune showdowns between a person, and a transfusion or a person and their unborn child,” says Dr. Christine Cserti-Gazdewich, a hematologist with the University Health Network.

The new Er blood group is the 44th to be added to the list, alongside popular blood groups A, B and O.

Researchers say there are a total of five Er antigens in this group based on genetic variations. When the body creates antibodies that match the Er antigens when it detects something foreign, this can lead to immune cells attacking the mismatched cells during a transfusion or pregnancy.

“Most people have the same version of the molecule and it’s just a small number of people on earth who are missing that molecule or who have such different versions of it that when they confront the wild type, or the common version, they make antibodies to it and reject that blood cell,” explains Cserti-Gazdewich.

Doctors found the new blood type after operating on a woman in the UK who unexpectedly lost her unborn child. Unidentified antibodies were found in the mother’s blood which lead them to the discovery.

While scientists say it may be rare, understanding it could be important for doctors who may be having a hard time diagnosing their patients.

“In these exotic incapability scenarios, which happen rarely, when a person looks untransfusable or unable to be pregnant with a fetus with a different blood type, it raised the question whether or not they themselves have a rare blood type and so this is now a member of a family of rare blood types individuals,” says Cserti-Gazdewich.

Canadian Blood Services says so far there are no known patients requiring the Er matched blood in Canada.

“We have a system and the laboratory tools in place to look for rare blood donors and to find antibodies in patients who may require this or other rare types of blood,” the blood agency said in a statement. “If we were to identify such a patient in need of Er matched units we would work to find appropriate donors in Canada or internationally.”

“There are many rare blood types out there but they all occur infrequently,” says Cserti-Gazdewich. “And the challenge posed by the person who looks incompatible with everything is why, and now this is now part of that library of possibilities. So our job when we see someone who is very hard to transfuse is to try to find them a compatible unit of blood that is like them as possible.”

Canadian Blood Services is encouraging people to roll up their sleeves and donate and if you are unsure about what blood type you are, preliminary testing for rare antigens can be done during the donation.