Review: the LW blood group system.
The LW blood group system had its origin in the early Rh experiments of the 1940s and played an important role in our understanding of hemolytic disease of the newborn. Considered for a number of years to be the animal equivalent of the human Rh(D) antigen, LW(a) has been shown to be unique. Biochemical studies have located the antigen on a different protein from proteins of the Rh antigens; however, the interdependence of LW and D still exists. The disappearance of LW antigens in various disease states and in pregnancy, associated with production of apparent alloantibody, remains puzzling, but this phenomenon may eventually help our understanding of the immunology of disease.
Storry
J R
JR
American Red Cross Blood Services, National Reference Laboratory for Blood Group Serology, 15601 Crabbs Branch Way, Rockville, MD 20855-2736, USA.