Just relying on blood donation, an Australian man has saved the lives of more than 2 million babies in more than 60 years. His blood was even used to create a drug that could be used to prevent a life-threatening disease in newborns. Why is this man’s blood so special? How does this blood save the newborn?
Just relying on blood donation, an Australian man has saved the lives of more than 2 million babies in more than 60 years. His blood was even used to create a drug that could be used to prevent a life-threatening disease in newborns. Why is this man’s blood so special? How does this blood save the newborn?
What is the Rh blood type?
Things have to start with 14-year-old James Harrison. Harrison needed surgery that year, and later he learned that his survival depended on a large amount of blood from strangers. A recovered Harrison felt compelled to pay back. So Harrison decided to donate blood as soon as he turned 18.
After the first few blood donations, doctors discovered that his blood contained unusually strong and long-lasting anti-D immunoglobulin, also known as Rh immunoglobulin. After the protein is taken or injected by pregnant women, it can be used to prevent Rh blood group incompatibility from causing serious consequences to newborns.
So what is the Rh blood type?
Human erythrocyte blood group consists of more than 20 blood group systems, ABO and Rh blood group are the two blood group systems most closely related to human blood transfusion.
When there is a D blood group substance (antigen) on a person’s red blood cells, it is called Rh positive, which is represented by Rh (+); when the D antigen is absent, it is Rh negative, which is represented by Rh (-).
You may have heard of panda blood, which is Rh negative blood. Relevant data show that in the United States, about 15% of the population is Rh negative.
For most people, whether they are Rh positive or Rh negative does not make a huge difference to their health. But if the mother is Rh negative and the fetus is Rh positive, problems can arise.
This is because if the baby’s Rh-positive blood cells accidentally get into the mother’s blood, the mother’s immune system will see the Rh-positive blood cells as “foreign invaders” and produce antibodies, similar to transplant rejection. These produced antibodies enter the fetus through the placenta, destroying the red blood cells of the fetus, and Rh immunity occurs. In the end, a mother-child Rh blood type incompatibility pregnancy may cause stillbirth, premature birth or hemolytic disease of the newborn.
To prevent Rh incompatibility problems, doctors first test a woman’s blood in early pregnancy or before pregnancy. If Rh negative, she may be injected with Rh immune globulin to prevent Rh immunity from occurring. That’s why Harrison’s blood can save lives.
The protein is made into a drug that Rh-negative women can take at 28 weeks of pregnancy and within 72 hours of giving birth to an Rh-positive baby.
While exactly how Rh immunoglobulin prevents complications from Rh incompatibility is unclear, the researchers believe the antibody covers the surface antigens of fetal Rh-positive blood cells in the mother’s blood, preventing the mother’s immune system from recognizing them .
Known as the “Golden Arm Man”
, in May 2018, when Harrison was 81 years old, he made the last and 1173rd blood donation and broke the Guinness World Record. The reason why it was the last time was because doctors from the Australian Red Cross told him that he was too old and had to ensure his health first.
According to the Red Cross, Harrison, known as the “man with the golden arm”, donated blood more than 1,100 times, and his plasma was also used to make medicine.
It is estimated that the drug has helped save more than two million babies from potentially fatal diseases. Since 1967, more than three million doses of anti-D drugs (that is, drugs containing Harrison’s blood) have been distributed to the mothers of these babies, and even Harrison’s daughter is one of the beneficiaries of his blood.
Harrison has been widely acclaimed and awarded an Order of Australia for her long-term support of the Australian Red Cross Blood Center and the Anti-D Programme.
Interestingly, when he heard from the Red Cross that his blood had saved the lives of millions of babies, he said: “Millions is a bit of an exaggeration, but if they say that’s it, then I’m glad I did.” I did.”
