Transfusion of blood has become a method of greatest value in many types of anaemia.
In the selection of a donor for blood for transfusion it is always necessary to try his red cells against the serum of the recipient as well as the patient’s red cells against the serum of the donor, in order to prove the absence of haemolyzing or agglutinating bodies.
Certain persons have isohaemolysins in their blood which dissolve the red cells of other persons and in paroxysmal haemoglobinuria autohaemolysins may be present which can destroy the patient’s own red cells. This autohaemolysin seems operative only when a low temperature is followed by a high one. When haemoglobinaemia exists the liver converts it into bile pigment, causing bilious stools and jaundice. If one-sixth of the red cells are destroyed haemoglobinuria results.
In the following tables, two groupings of blood are given. Both are quoted in text-books, and both are in common use. Although that of Moss is more generally followed in France, England and the United States, the obvious desirability of having one classification universally employed, in order to avoid confusion and the possibility of serious accidents, has led to the recommendation that, on the basis of priority the grouping of Jansky be adopted.
In 1907, Jansky described the following four groups.
Group 1, the serum of which agglutinates the corpuscles of Groups 2, 3 and 4, while the cells are not agglutinated by any serum.
Group 2, the serum of which agglutinates the corpuscles of Groups 3 and 4, but not those of Groups 1 and 2, while the corpuscles are agglutinated by the serum of Groups 1 and 3, but not by those of Groups 2 and 4.
Group 3, the serum of which agglutinates the cells of Groups 2 and 4, but not those of Groups 1 and 3, while the corpuscles are agglutinated by the serum of Groups 1 and 2, but not by those of Groups 3 and 4.
Group 4, the serum of which does not agglutinate any corpuscles, while the corpuscles are agglutinated by the serum of all other groups.