Evidence for Heterogeneity of LW Antigen Revealed in a Family Study

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Abstract
An inbred family (Wald.) with three apparently LW negative members in two generations is described in this report. Studies of the red blood cells of these LW negative family members with a variety of anti‐LW reagents establishes that the VW‐Wald. category is a weak LW variant. Wald. red blood cells react weakly with the anti‐LW of Bige., but are negative with that of VW. An analogy may be made between the LW, ABO, and P systems. LW negative (lwlw) of the Bige. type corresponds to group O or pp. Weak LW positive or VW‐Wald. type corresponds to A2 and P2. Normal LW positive corresponds to A1 and P1. The antibody made by lwlw individuals may be comparable to the anti A + A1 of group O and anti P + P1 of pp. The antibody made by weak LW positive or VW type may be comparable to the anti A1 of A2 and anti P1 of P2 individuals. It is suggested that donors and patients now classified as LW negative be characterized as Bige. or VW types until more precise nomenclature is defined.