Further Analysis of Korean Blood Types

Lee, Samuel Y

Abstract

In addition to the author's previous report (1960), a further analysis was made with more blood samples and more varieties of antisera. Those data with Rh-Hr, Kell, Duffy, MN systems and subgroups in the ABO system were compared with the previous data. As to some of the new antisera such as Cellarlo, Kpa, Kpb, S, s, P, Diego, Lutheran and Lewis, the first analysis on Korean blood samples was made of this time. The data were compared with the data on other racial groups as observed by others. In general the present data of Rh-Hr system confirmed our previous findings. The most frequent cell types were Rh1 Rh2 (CcdEe) and Rh1 Rh1(CDe). The frequency of rh (cde) cell was one in 332 or 0.3%. In addition to the eight phenotypes which were encountered in the author's (1960) previous series, two rare types were found in this study. Still two other phenotypes were identified in an Rh0(D) negative family's family-study. The close association of gene Rz (CDE) with Asiatic races was discussed. Kell factor seems even rarer than it was thought. Cellano and and Kpb (Rautenberg) antigens appeared to be prevalent in Koreans while Kpa (Penny) antigen appeared rare in Koreans as was the Kell factor. The Duffy factor seems more frequent than it was thought. The S-factor was relatively low in Koreans as compared with the English. It seemed more associated with the N factor than with the M factor. The s-factor was almost universal in Koreans. The rarity of the A2 and A2B Cell was again demonstrated. The frequency of the P-factor was lower than that found in the English and higher than that of the Chinese and Japanese. The Diego factor was certainly present in Korean blood samples and the frequency was even higher than that found in the Japanese as reported by others. Out of random blood samples of 117 Koreans studied, 17were found positive, a positivity of 14.5%. No Lu (a+) blood was found in 95 random samples and apparently Lu(b) is universal in Koreans. The frequency of Le (a+) was essentially the same range as in the English.