Blood Diathesis in a Patient of Rare Blood Group ‘Bombay Phenotype’

Abstract

Bombay blood group or Oh phenotype is a rare autosomal recessive phenotype within the ABO blood grouping system. It occurs due to a mutation in the H gene that produces H antigen on red blood cells (RBCs). Individuals with two mutant H genes lack H antigen on RBCs and have anti-H antibodies in serum. At the time of blood grouping, this blood group mimics O blood group but it shows incompatibility with O group blood during cross matching. Several studies have reported an association of decreased von Willebrand factor (VWF) levels in plasma with ABO blood groups. Here we report a case of a 19-year-old male, who was labelled as Bombay phenotype and later found to have markedly reduced plasma VWF levels.

Bombay Blood Group Phenotype Misdiagnosed As O Phenotype: A Case Report

“…The prevalence of this blood group is unexplored in many regions of the world due to its rarity and the insufficiency of available data. At a molecular level, the para-Bombay blood group is characterized by the lack of ABH expression on RBCs, with some expression of ABH antigens in bodily secretions [ 4 , 5 ]. In contrast, the standard Bombay blood group does not have any ABH antigenic expression on both RBCs and secretions.…”