A phenotypic association between the blood group antigen Nea and the Rh antigen D.

Using several methods the polymorphic blood group antigen Nea was shown to be more strongly expressed on D+ than on D- and Du adult red blood cells. No serologically demonstrable influence on Nea strength could, however, be seen either by the Rh phenotype in general or, in particular, by the Rh antigens C or E. In contrast, this phenotypic association between the Rh antigen D and Nea was not present when cord blood samples were tested. In Ne(a+) cord bloods, whether D+, D-, or Du, Nea was always strongly expressed. The paper points out that these findings have their exact analogies in those reported for the very high frequency antigen LW.