In a first, KMC doctors identify rare blood group 'P Null' phenotype in India

A team of doctors, led by Shamee Shastry from Kasturba Medical College (KMC) has identified a rare blood group called 'pp' or 'P null' phenotype. 

A blood type is considered rare if fewer than 1 in 1,000 people have it. The Blood Bank at Kasturba Hospital received samples from a patient who required urgent blood transfusion. The doctors were unable to find a compatible blood unit even after cross-matching with more than 80 units. 

Extensive immunohematology workup was performed by the blood bank team and further for confirmation, samples were referred to the International Blood group Reference Laboratory (IBGRL), Bristol, UK for serological testing. With the help of a reference laboratory, it was confirmed that the patient’s cells had the rare ‘pp’ phenotype.

ABO and Rh D are the commonly typed blood group systems. However, there are more than 200 minor blood group antigens known besides A, B and Rh, a press release issued by the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) said. 

Dr Poornima Baliga, Pro-vice chancellor of faculty of health sciences, MAHE said that it was for the first time P blood group null phenotype has been detected in India, and she supported the Blood Bank’s initiative to build rare donor registry for the region.

Talking about the discovery, Dr Shamee  Shastry, professor and head of the department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion said, "The patient had a very rare ‘P null’ blood group and anti PP1Pk antibody in his blood that has a potential to cause acute intravascular hemolytic reaction to incompatible blood transfusion. Rare donor registry will be of great help in managing such cases. This antibody is also known to cause recurrent abortions in women. Finding compatible unit for such case is a near impossible task without a well-established rare donor panel," she said.

Dr Kiran Acharya, Professor of Orthopedics and his team performed blood less surgery (Femur fracture repair) once the patient’s hemoglobin was increased to the desired level using other medications.