THE GRAYDON (Gr) OR VERWEYST (Vw) BLOOD GROUP ANTIGEN IN JAPANESE (PRELIMINARY REPORT)

The Graydon (Gr) blood group was found in Australia in 1943 and was reported by Graydon in 1946. This blood group antigen was considered to be a “family” blood group at that time. In addition, another new blood group antigen, Verweyst (Vw) was described by van der Hart, Bosman and van Loghem in 1954. The anti-Gr antibody was found in the normal human serum and anti-Vw antibody production was considered as results of pregnancy. The both anti-sera reacted better at lower temperature than at 37°C. Recently, we found an atypical antibody in the serum of tuberculosis patient and the serum is contained anti-Lae antibody however, when the patients serum reacted with one of the Le (a-) donor's cells in saline, albumin and by indirect coombs tests but not by enzyme method. This unknown antibody in the patient's serum which was conbined with anti-Lea antibody was confirmed as probably anti-Vw by Dr. J. A. Allen (Blood Grouping Laboratory of Boston). Therfore, the donor' cell which was Le (a-) but reacted with this patient's serum probably possesed the Vw blood group antigen.