ABO and Lewis blood group antigens of donor origin in the bile of patients after liver transplantation

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Abstract
The authors prospectively studied the expression of blood group antigens and their corresponding glycosyltransferases in the bile of 11 patients who received orthotopic liver transplants. In six patients, the donor was of the same ABO/Lewis/secretor as the recipient, and the expected blood group antigens were found in the postoperative bile. Five patients who received transplants from donors discordant for either ABO, Lewis, or secretor status continued to produce blood group antigens of donor origin. This study provides evidence that the expression of soluble blood group antigens is under autonomous end-organ control.