title: [The molecular basis of RH system and its applications in obstetrics and transfusion medicine].
abstract: The Rh system is the most polymorphic and immunogenic for all blood group systems. Currently more than 49 antigens were identified with five major antigens D, C, c, E, e. Knowledge of the Rh system's molecular basis, since its first cloning 17 years ago, allowed to understand the mechanism of Rh-negative phenotype and the variants of antigens as RHD and RHCE. Deletions, gene rearrangements and insertions are the main mutations. In Caucasians the primary mechanism of Rh-negative phenotype is the complete RHD gene deletion, while in African descendants it is the presence of pseudogene and gene RHDψ hybrid RHD-CE (4-7)-D. The authors analyze the structure of the Rh complex in red cells, molecular basis of the Rh system, mechanisms of Negativity RHD and weak and incomplete expression of RHD.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP. lunardozza@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Luciano Marcondes Machado
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Nardozza
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szulman
authors.forename: Jose Augusto
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Barreto
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Araujo Junior
authors.forename: Antonio Fernandes
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Moron
mesh_terms: D044383:Black People; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D006801:Humans; D009774:Obstetrics; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System / Q000235:genetics*; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System