Universal blood group - what is it? Blood type (AB0): essence, definition in a child, compatibility, what it affects

The very first successful blood transfusion was recorded in the mid-17th century in France. Then the man's life was saved thanks to the lamb. But at that time, doctors had no idea about such a concept as blood type and, of course, they could not know which blood type suits everyone, so it is safe to say that the young man was simply lucky.

Only at the beginning of the 20th century, after numerous studies, the Austrian biophysicist Karl Landsteiner determined the principle of dividing human blood into 4 types, and also introduced the concept of “incompatibility”. Humanity owes millions of saved lives to him.

So, there are 4 main groups, they are usually designated as follows:

0 (I) - first (zero)
A (II) - second
B (III) - third
AB (IV) - fourth

What's inside?

Red blood cells (erythrocytes) are studded with various protein molecules. The set of such molecules is genetically programmed and individual for everyone. Among them are those that influence the formation of human blood. These molecules are called antigens. Their combinations are different.

So, people with group II (A) have antigen A, carriers III (B) have B, IV (AB) have both antigens, and those belonging to group I (0) do not have them at all. The opposite situation is observed in blood serum: it contains so-called agglutinins to “foreign” antigens (α and β).

Gluing of blood cells will not occur in the absence of the same antigens and agglutinins. But when a “foreign” element enters, agglutinins immediately attack it and provoke the gluing of foreign red blood cells. The result can be fatal - oxygen stops flowing, small vessels become clogged, and after some time the blood begins to clot.

About 40-50% of people are carriers of the first group. Owners of the second – 30-40%. The third - 10-20%, the least number of people with the fourth - only 5%.

Transfusion compatibility

To avoid the danger of coagulation, Landsteiner proposed transfusing recipients with the first group with the same donor blood. Thus, , due to the lack of antigens, it is universal, and its owners are considered universal donors.

People with group IV are called universal recipients: they are allowed to receive any blood. For those with II or III group You can pour a similar one, as well as the first one. It is important to remember about the Rh factor. People can only be given blood that matches their Rhesus test.

Blood rhesus is an antigen that is found on the surface of red blood cells. It was also discovered by Karl Landsteiner and his colleague A. Weiner. About 85% of Europeans are Rh positive. The remaining 15% (7% among Africans) are Rh negative.

How does positive and negative Rh factor affect health?

It is also worth noting that today scientists distinguish more than 250 types of blood, which are combined into 25 systems. Therefore, the issue of compatibility continues to be the subject of research, and will be reviewed more than once.

Blood is unique substance, which consists of plasma and formed substances. Depending on its composition, several types are distinguished. They are classified different systems, among which the AB0 system is most often used. It distinguishes between the first, which is also called the universal blood group, as well as the second, third and fourth groups.

Human plasma contains two types of agglutinins and two agglutinogens. They can be present in the blood in different combinations and this determines the blood type:

• So, according to the AB0 system, if there are α and β, then this is the first group, also denoted by the number “0”. This is what is called the universal blood group.
• The second contains proteins A and β and is designated “A”.
• The third consists of B and α and is designated "B".
• The fourth includes A and B and is designated "AB".

In addition to agglutinins and agglutinogens, there are specific antigen located on the surface of red blood cells. If it is present, they speak of a positive Rh factor. If there is no antigen, then the person is Rh negative.

Group Compatibility

The compatibility of blood groups began to be discussed in the last century. At that time, gasotransfusion was used to restore the volume of circulating blood in the body. After a series of unsuccessful and successful experiments, scientists came to the conclusion that transfused blood may be incompatible, and further observations showed that blood of one group and one Rh factor may not be suitable for a patient with the same data.

However, during the experiments it was possible to find a universal blood group that is ideal for all other species. This type can be transfused to recipients in the second, third and fourth groups. Also, during testing, a universal blood group into which any other can be transfused was identified - this is the fourth group with a positive Rh factor.

First group

According to statistics, about 40% of people on the planet have the first blood group. All of them are divided into two groups: Rh-positive 0(I) and Rh-negative 0(I). The latter have a universal blood group and Rh factor, which suits everyone. In other words, the materials of these people can be transfused into patients with any other group. Visually it looks like this:

Universal donor from the first positive blood compatible with other groups, but only with positive Rh.

Nowadays, the first group is rarely used when transfusion of a recipient with another group. If a situation suddenly arises in which it needs to be infused into the patient, then, as a rule, it is used in small quantities - no more than 500 ml.

If you have blood type 1, the donor can only be with the same blood, i.e.:

• 0(I)Rh- is only compatible with 0(I)Rh-;
• 0(I)Rh+ is compatible with 0(I)Rh- with 0(I)Rh+.

When transfusing, the characteristics of the donor and recipient are taken into account, because even with the same group and Rh, the fluids are not always compatible.

Second group

The second group has restrictions on use. It can only be used by people with the same data and the same Rh factor. Thus, for blood transfusion, blood of the second group with negative Rh is used in people with the second group, both positive and negative Rh. And Rh positive fluid is used only in recipients with the same Rh. You can also add the first group to the second one.

Third group

This option is compatible not only with the third, but also with the fourth and first groups. can donate blood for patients with B(III).

If the donor has the third group, then his blood will be compatible with the following recipients:

• At Rh positive blood donor, it can be transfused for people fourth and third positive.
• For negative Rhesus: blood can be used for people with the third and fourth groups, both positive and negative.

Fourth group

When asking the question of which blood group is universal, we can answer that there are two. The first group with negative Rh makes it possible to save the lives of all people, regardless of group and Rh. But people with the fourth group and positive Rh are universal recipients - they can be infused with any blood, with any Rh.

If the recipient is Rh negative, then any group with only Rh negative will be added to it.

The influence of blood type on conception and pregnancy

When conceiving a child, the blood type does not matter at all, but the Rh factor is very important. If the mother negative blood, and the child is positive, then throughout pregnancy there is an immunological reaction in which protein is produced in the mother’s blood. If at repeat pregnancy the fetus will have it again Rh positive, then a reaction of agglutination and hemolysis of red blood cells will begin to occur in the woman’s body. This situation is called Rhesus conflict.

Therefore, after the first pregnancy, a woman is recommended to be administered anti-Rhesus globulin to break the immunological chain.

Other blood types

Interestingly, in the fifties of the last century, scientists identified another blood group, which cannot be attributed to either the first or any other. It is called Bomayan, according to the place where the carriers of this group were found.

The peculiarity of this group is that it does not contain antigens A and B. But its serum also lacks antigen H, which can cause serious difficulties, for example, during paternity determination, since the baby will not have a single antigen in the blood that is present in his parents. This group is very rare in the world (only 0.01%), and a chromosomal mutation is to blame for its appearance.

Life and normal functioning organisms are impossible without blood - liquid tissue body. It is red in color and contains red blood cells, platelets, white blood cells and plasma.

Its amount in the human body reaches 4-5 liters. It performs several important functions:

• protective;
• respiratory;
• excretory;
• transport.

There are 4 groups - I, II, III, IV, as well as 2 Rh factors: positive and negative. These parameters are important and are determined at birth. If it is necessary to carry out a transfusion, doctors are guided by these indicators.

If there is no biomaterial of a suitable category, the procedure is impossible. One of them is universal. Which group suits everyone will be discussed below.

Characteristics of blood groups and the universality factor

I - zero group (0). It is considered the most compatible with others, since it does not contain unique antigens - protein molecules of red blood cells - inherent in all other groups. This is the universal blood group.

Her plasma contains two types of antibodies: a-agglutinin and β-agglutinin. If there is a positive Rh, a person with a “null” becomes a universal donor: his blood can be transfused to anyone, but only biomaterial of the same group will suit him. 50% of the world's population has this property.

II (A) is a less universal group for transfusion; it can only be “given” to people with group II or IV. It contains only β-agglutinins. In their absence, agglutinogen comes to the rescue.

III (B) has some similarities with the second. It can be transfused only to carriers of groups 3 or 4 if they have the same Rh factor, they are suitable for each other. It also contains β-agglutinin and agglutinogens.

IV (AV), which has only agglutinogens, is present in a very small number of people: 5% of the total population. Any blood is suitable for them, but it can only be “given” to people with exactly the same blood group.

Description of the Rh factor

This is a special protein contained in red blood cells and has antigenic properties. 99% of the world's population have the Rh factor in their blood; people without it are called Rh negative, which may depend on various reasons. This is not an anomaly, their lives proceed normally, with the exception of women: during pregnancy, their peculiarities are taken into account, and they must be constantly monitored by a doctor.

To determine your Rh factor, you need to do a blood test from a vein. Now this procedure newborn children are already in maternity hospitals. Previously, indications for determination were considered to be upcoming surgery, blood transfusion and pregnancy.

Blood type and Rh factor are always indicated together: next to the group number they put (+) or (-) for positive and negative, respectively.

Compatibility of blood and Rh factors when conceiving a child

These parameters are very important when planning a child. One of the key roles is played by the compatibility of blood composition and rhesus. In this case, it should be separated from the immunological incompatibility of the future mother and father.

The following parameters should cause caution:

1. Rh negative in women and positive in men.
2. If you have negative Rh expectant mother She and her child may have a Rh conflict. Moreover, the more pregnancies, the greater the likelihood of its occurrence.
3. If the unborn child has a protein inherited from the father and absent from the mother, then a blood group conflict arises, and the woman begins to produce antibodies. There is no need to be afraid; it does not pose a threat to life or health. This is only important during conception, since fertilization may not occur. Tests are required to check compatibility.

Below is a table of the compatibility of groups of father and mother when planning a child, which also shows the percentage of probability of the future child receiving a certain group.

Women in the first group more often than others give birth to strong and healthy children, even if the fathers’ indicators do not match theirs. Positive Rh of both parents is also often a guarantee of a successful pregnancy and childbirth without complications.

Blood transfusion compatibility

This factor is decisive in such a situation. If incompatible, the procedure is impossible, otherwise death will occur.

Compatibility table

As can be seen from the table, people who have the first blood group and Rh negative - universal donors, and a person with 4 positive is a universal recipient.

Compatibility check and necessary tests

Before performing various surgical interventions, it is necessary to check the Rh factor of the donor and recipient. It is important because the patient may die if the wrong biomaterial is transfused.

Military and police officers have a special badge with vital signs engraved on them. If necessary, there is no need to do additional tests, because there are situations when every minute counts.

To check, tests are carried out, a study of the AB0 system. Both the donor and the recipient are subject to the procedure. Their individual compatibility is determined and the biomaterial is taken for analysis.

Before planning a child, the doctor also advises future parents to donate blood for compatibility. The ideal case is when the parents have everything the same, but this is quite rare.

If a woman is Rh positive and the father is Rh negative, there is a threat to the unborn child. The mother's body begins to produce antibodies that identify fetal cells as a foreign object.

Even if the fetus survives, pregnancy often occurs with complications. That is why it is important to take care of this in advance by doing the tests suggested by your doctor, especially if this is not your first pregnancy.

Any person should know their blood type and Rh factor, regardless of gender and race.

This information can save the life not only of its owner, but also to a stranger. You can get tests done at a local clinic or go to a private medical office.

Blood transfusion can be compared to an organ transplant, so many compatibility tests are performed before the procedure. Nowadays, blood that is strictly suitable for such parameters as group and Rh factor is used for transfusion. Using incompatible blood in large volumes can result in the death of the patient.

It is believed that the first one suits everyone. According to modern doctors, this compatibility is very conditional and as such universal group blood does not exist.

A little history

Attempts at blood transfusion began several centuries ago. In those days, they did not yet know about possible blood incompatibility. Therefore, many transfusions ended unsuccessfully, and one could only hope for a lucky break. And only at the beginning of the last century one of the most important discoveries in hematology was made. In 1900, after numerous studies, an immunologist from Austria, K. Landsteiner, discovered that all people can be divided by blood into three types (A, B, C) and, in this regard, proposed his own transfusion scheme. A little later, his student described the fourth group. In 1940, Landsteiner made another discovery - the Rh factor. Thus, it became possible to avoid incompatibility and save many human lives.

However, there are cases when a transfusion is urgently needed, and there is no time or opportunity to look for a suitable donor, for example, this was the case at the front during the war. Therefore, doctors have always been interested in the question of which blood group is universal.

What is universality based on?

Until the mid-20th century, it was assumed that group I was universal. It was considered compatible with any other, so its carrier could, on occasion, be used as a universal donor.

Indeed, cases of its incompatibility with others during transfusion were observed quite rarely. However for a long time failed transfusions were not taken into account.

Compatibility was based on the fact that some combinations produce flakes, while others do not. Coagulation occurs as a result of red blood cells sticking together, which in medicine is called agglutination. It was because of the clumping of red cells and the formation of blood clots that the death of patients occurred.

The division of blood into groups is based on the presence or absence of antigens (A and B) and antibodies (α and β) in it.

There are various proteins on the surface of red blood cells, and their composition is determined genetically. The molecules by which a group is determined are called antigens. In carriers of the first group, this antigen is completely absent. In people with the second, red cells contain antigen A, in the third - B, in the fourth - both A and B. At the same time, the plasma contains antibodies against foreign antigens. Against antigen A - agglutinin α and against antigen B - agglutinin β. The first group has antibodies of both types (α and β). The second has only β antibodies. People whose group is third have agglutinin α in their plasma. People with fourth level have no antibodies in their blood at all.

Only single-type blood can be used for transfusion

If the donor has an antigen of the same name as the recipient's plasma antibodies, then red blood cells will stick together as a result of the attack of agglutinins on the foreign element. The coagulation process begins, blockage of blood vessels occurs, the supply of oxygen stops, and death is possible.

Since there are no antigens in group I blood, when it is transfused to a person from any other blood, red blood cells do not stick together. For this reason, it was believed that it suits everyone.

Finally

Today, the recipient receives blood from a donor strictly with the same group and Rh factor. The use of the so-called universal blood can only be justified in in case of emergency and when transfused in limited quantities, when there is a question of saving life, and in the storeroom in this moment the one needed is missing.

In addition, medical scientists have found that there are many more types of blood. Therefore, the topic of compatibility is much broader and continues to be the subject of study.

There are often cases when, with large blood loss, the patient needs to undergo a transfusion of liquid connective tissue from a donor. In practice it is common to use biological material, matching the group and Rh factor. However, some people's blood is considered universal, and in a critical situation, its transfusion can save the patient's life. There are also individuals who can be transfused with liquid connective tissue of any group. They are considered universal recipients.

Why is blood type compatibility important?

Transfusion of fluid connective tissue is a serious medical procedure. It must be carried out in accordance with certain conditions. As a rule, blood transfusion is indicated for seriously ill patients, people who have complications after surgical intervention etc.

Before carrying out a transfusion, it is important to select a donor whose blood is compatible with the recipient’s biomaterial group. There are four of them: I (O), II (A), III (B) and IV (AB). Each of them also has a negative or positive Rh factor. If the compatibility conditions are not met during blood transfusion, an agglutination reaction occurs. It involves the gluing of red blood cells with their subsequent destruction.

The consequences of such a transfusion are extremely dangerous:

• hematopoietic function is impaired;
• malfunctions occur in the functioning of most organs and systems;
• metabolic processes slow down.

The natural result is post-transfusion shock (manifested by fever, vomiting, shortness of breath, rapid pulse), which can be fatal.

Rh factor compatibility. Its meaning during transfusion

During transfusion, not only the blood type, but also the Rh factor should be taken into account. It is a protein present on the membranes of red blood cells. The overwhelming majority of the Earth's inhabitants (85%) have it, the remaining 15% do not. Accordingly, the former have a positive Rh factor, the latter - negative. When giving blood transfusions, they should not be mixed.

Thus, a patient who has a negative Rh factor should not receive liquid connective tissue whose red blood cells contain this protein. If this rule not to comply, the recipient’s immune system will begin a powerful fight against foreign substances. As a result, the Rh factor will be destroyed. If the situation repeats, the red blood cells will begin to stick together, thereby provoking the appearance of serious complications.

The Rh factor remains unchanged throughout life. In this regard, people who do not have it need to pay special attention during blood transfusion. Women who have a negative Rh factor should notify their doctor and obstetrician-gynecologist about this upon pregnancy. A note containing this information is entered into the outpatient card.

Universal recipient

Give your blood, i.e. Anyone can be a donor for people in need. But when transfusing, it is important to consider the compatibility of the biomaterial.

At the beginning of the 19th century, a scientist from Austria suggested, and soon proved, that the process of gluing red blood cells (agglutination) is a sign of activity immune system, caused by the presence in the blood of 2 reacting substances (agglutinogens) and 2 that can interact with them (agglutinins). The first were given the designations A and B, the second - a and b. Blood is incompatible if substances of the same name come into contact: A and a, B and b. Thus, the liquid connective tissue of each person must contain agglutinogens that do not stick together with agglutinins.

Each blood group has its own characteristics. Special attention deserves IV (AB). The red blood cells contained in it contain both A and B agglutinogens, but plasma does not contain agglutinins, which contribute to the gluing of red blood cells during transfusion donated blood. People with group IV are considered universal recipients. The transfusion process rarely causes complications in them.

A universal recipient is a person who can receive a blood transfusion from any donor. In this case, an agglutination reaction will not occur. But meanwhile, blood of group IV is allowed to be transfused only to people with it.

Universal donor

In practice, doctors select a donor who best suits the recipient. Blood transfusions are of the same type. But this is not always possible. In a critical situation, the patient may be transfused with group I blood. Its peculiarity is the absence of agglutinogens, but there are a and b agglutinins in the plasma. This makes its owner a universal donor. During transfusion, red blood cells will also not stick together.

This feature is taken into account when transfusion of a small amount of connective tissue. If a large volume needs to be transfused, only the same group is taken, just as a universal recipient cannot accept a lot of donor blood from a different group.

Finally

Blood transfusion is medical procedure which can save lives seriously ill patients. Some people are universal blood recipients or donors. In the first case, they can take liquid connective tissue any group. In the second, their blood is transfused to all people. Thus, universal donors and recipients have special groups of connective tissue.