If a patient has the Lewis phenotype Le(a−b−) with anti-Lea presence, should anti-Lea be considered for Le(a−b+) patient with inconclusive antibodies?

If a patient has the Lewis phenotype Le(a−b−) with anti-Lea presence, should anti-Lea be considered for Le(a−b+) patient with inconclusive antibodies?

• A. Anti-Lea should be considered as a possible antibody
• B. Anti-Lea may be a possible antibody, but further studies are needed
• C. Anti-Lea is not a likely antibody because even Leb individuals secrete some Lea
• D. Anti-Lea may be found in saliva but not detectable in serum

Answer: (C)

The presence of anti-Lea antibodies in a patient with the Lewis phenotype Le(a−b−) suggests that the individual has formed these antibodies due to exposure to Lea antigens, which they do not express. For Le(a−b+) individuals, while there is a presence of Leb antigens, they can still have some expression of Lea due to secretor status, which involves the secretion of blood group antigens in bodily fluids. However, not all Leb individuals secrete Lea to the same degree or potentially at all, making the likelihood of anti-Lea antibodies in this context lower. In this scenario, considering that anti-Lea is an antibody directed against the Lea antigen, it is even less plausible for someone with the phenotype Le(a−b+) to elicit a response of anti-Lea since they possess Leb antigens that may provide limited protection from anti-Lea development. Therefore, understanding the biological basis behind antigen expression and secretion provides strong reasoning for concluding that anti-Lea is not likely to be present in the serum of individuals who are Le(a−b+). In summary, recognizing the intricate relationship between Lewis phenotypes and antibody formation helps clarify the rationale for deeming anti-Lea a less likely possibility in a Le(a−

The presence of anti-Lea antibodies in a patient with the Lewis phenotype Le(a−b−) suggests that the individual has formed these antibodies due to exposure to Lea antigens, which they do not express. For Le(a−b+) individuals, while there is a presence of Leb antigens, they can still have some expression of Lea due to secretor status, which involves the secretion of blood group antigens in bodily fluids. However, not all Leb individuals secrete Lea to the same degree or potentially at all, making the likelihood of anti-Lea antibodies in this context lower.

In this scenario, considering that anti-Lea is an antibody directed against the Lea antigen, it is even less plausible for someone with the phenotype Le(a−b+) to elicit a response of anti-Lea since they possess Leb antigens that may provide limited protection from anti-Lea development. Therefore, understanding the biological basis behind antigen expression and secretion provides strong reasoning for concluding that anti-Lea is not likely to be present in the serum of individuals who are Le(a−b+).

In summary, recognizing the intricate relationship between Lewis phenotypes and antibody formation helps clarify the rationale for deeming anti-Lea a less likely possibility in a Le(a−