Esterase D phenotypes in North-eastern Japan.

Esterase D (EsD) was typed in 2,367 unrelated healthy blood donors from Yamagata and Miyagi districts, north-eastern area of Japan. The gene frequencies observed were: EsD1 = 0.642, EsD2 = 0.358. In these blood donors two rare EsD phenotypes, EsD 3-2 and a new variant, were found. As for this new variant, the mode of hereditary transmission was discussed by family study.