Blood-Vital for Life! - BLOOD AND YOUR IMMUNITY

Early in the 20th century, scientists deepened a man's understanding of the marvelous complexity of blood.  They learned tat there are different blood types. Matching a donor's blood and a patient's blood is critical in transfusions. If someone is type A blood receives type B, he may have a severe hemolytic reaction. This can destroy many of his red blood cells and quickly kill him. While blood-typing and  cross matching are now routing, errors do occur. Every year people die of hemolytic reactions. 

The facts show that the issue of incompatibility goes far beyond the relatively few blood types that hospitals seek to match.  Why?  Well, in his article "Blood Transfusion: Uses, Abuses, and Hazards," Dr. Douglas H. Posey, Jr., writes:  "Nearly 30 years ago Sampson described blood transfusion as a relatively dangerous procedure. . . [Since then} at least 400 additional red blood cells antigens have been identified and characterized.  There is no doubt the number will continue to increase because the red cell membrane is enormously complex." -Journal of the National Medical Association, July 1989. 

Scientists are now studying in in the effect of transfused blood on the body's defense, or immune system.  What might that mean for you or for a relative who needs surgery?

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