Please read and answer the two questions: 47. A large number of accident victims
ID: 11295 • Letter: P
Question
Please read and answer the two questions:47. A large number of accident victims needing blood transfusions arrive in your health care clinic. There is little time to determine the blood type of these individuals, yet your supply of O type blood (the universal donor) is critically low. A cell biology student volunteering in the clinic suggests this problem can be circumvented by treating the blood from type A, type B, and type AB donors with a readily available enzyme preparation that cleaves the carbohydrate groups off any glycolipid exposed on the surface of red blood cells.
According to the plan, this treated blood could then be used for transfusion without matching the blood type of the victim. What is the biological basis for the student’s suggestion?
After looking at the extent of your malpractice insurance and pondering the consequences of inaction, would you follow the student’s plan? Why or why not?
Explanation / Answer
According to the plan, this treated blood could then be used for transfusion without matching the blood type of the victim. What is the biological basis for the student’s suggestion?
The kid is thinking specific antigens always match up with specific enzymes that activate the antibodies:
Due to the presence of isoantibodies against non-self blood group antigens, individuals of type A blood group immediately raise anti-B antibodies against B-blood group RBCs if transfused with blood from B group. The anti-B antibodies bind to B antigens on RBCs and cause complement-mediated lysis of the RBCs. The same happens for B and O groups (which raises both anti-A and anti-B antibodies). However, only blood group AB does not have anti-A and anti-B isoantibodies. This is because both A and B-antigens are present on the RBCs and are both self-antigens, hence they can receive blood from all groups and are universal recipient.
After looking at the extent of your malpractice insurance and pondering the consequences of inaction, would you follow the student’s plan? Why or why not? ABSOLUTELY NOT. ARE YOU KIDDING?
He's forgetting that there are differences between Ai and AA blood. This could be catestrophic - deadly for some patients. He's also forgetting that AB doesn't raise any antibodies - but what if someone's blood is taking longer than usual to raise antibodies, and instead of the expected AB bloodtype they actually have... A? B? O?
Do you want to kill your patients?
No :)
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