Rh-Null Blood: The World's Rarest Blood Type
Rh-null is the rarest blood phenotype: ~43 known individuals worldwide.
Rh-null red cells lack all Rh antigens (D, C, c, E, e) due to mutations in the RHD and RHCE genes or their regulator RHAG.
Clinical Challenges
- Extreme difficulty finding compatible blood for transfusion.
- Rh-null individuals can only receive Rh-null blood.
- International rare donor registries coordinate donations.
Rh-null is sometimes called "golden blood" because it can theoretically be donated to anyone with rare Rh types, but logistics make this nearly impossible.
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