Kg, a new low-frequency red cell antigen responsible for hemolytic disease of the newborn.

Hemolytic disease of the newborn in a Japanese infant led to studies which indicate that an antibody detected in the maternal serum is recognizing a hitherto unknown red cell antigen. The antigen, which we have named Kg, was found in two generations of the family and it is inherited as a Mendelian dominant character. The maternal serum failed to react with the red cells of more than 600 random Japanese blood donors, 64 red cell samples known to possess low-frequency antigens and all but one of 75 red cell samples known to lack high-frequency antigens without recognized low-frequency antigens. The father's red cells were tested extensively for established low-frequency antigens; only Dia was demonstrated and the maternal antibody was shown not to contain anti-Dia.