Anti-Mta associated with three cases of hemolytic disease of the newborn.
The Mta antigen is a low-frequency red blood cell (RBC) surface antigen and is an established antigen of the MNSs blood group system. There has been one report of anti-Mta-induced hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) in the literature to date. We describe a family in which three children were affected by neonatal anemia. The clinical and hematologic findings were consistent with HDN, despite repeatedly negative direct antiglobulin tests (DAT) on cord RBCs. Serologic investigations showed that the mother's serum contained anti-Mta. The father and all three children phenotyped as Mta+, while the mother was Mta-. Adsorption and elution experiments gave results which suggested that anti-Mta may be implicated in recurrent HDN in this family.
Cheung
C C
CC
South Eastern Area Laboratory Services-Transfusion Services, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia.
Challis
D
D
Fisher
G
G
Russell
S J
SJ
Davis
A
A
Bruce
H
H
Watt
J
J
Chong
B H
BH