AB (blood type)
AB (blood type)
The AB blood type is one of the four main blood types identified by the ABO blood group system. It is characterized by the presence of both antigen A and antigen B on the red blood cells' surface. This blood type is considered the rarest among the ABO blood group system, with a global prevalence of approximately 4%.
History[edit | edit source]
The AB blood type was first identified by Austrian scientist Karl Landsteiner in the early 20th century. Landsteiner's discovery of the ABO blood group system, including the AB blood type, revolutionized the field of transfusion medicine and earned him the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1930.
Characteristics[edit | edit source]
Individuals with the AB blood type have both A and B antigens on the surface of their red blood cells and lack antibodies against these antigens in their plasma. This means that they can receive blood from donors of any ABO blood type (universal recipients) but can only donate blood to other AB individuals.
Genetics[edit | edit source]
The AB blood type is inherited in an autosomal codominant manner. This means that an individual must inherit an A allele from one parent and a B allele from the other to have the AB blood type.
Health implications[edit | edit source]
Research has suggested that the AB blood type may be associated with an increased risk of certain health conditions, including heart disease, blood clots, and memory loss. However, these associations are not fully understood and require further study.
See also[edit | edit source]
- Blood type
- ABO blood group system
- Antigen
- Red blood cell
- Blood donation
- Blood plasma
- Heart disease
- Blood clot
- Memory loss
 | This medical article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it. |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
