Latest Discoveries in Health Science
Newborn Screening for Sickle Cell Disease in India
▪ In recent years, India has made strides in addressing sickle cell disease (SCD) through newborn screening initiatives.
▪ A study conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) brought into light the
effectiveness of early diagnosis and treatment.
▪ The findings suggest that early intervention can drastically reduce mortality rates associated with SCD.
▪ SCD is a serious inherited blood disorder that, if undetected, can lead to severe health complications.
▪ These include infections, anaemia, and strokes in infants.
EMM-Negative Blood Group System
▪ The International Society of Blood Transfusion officially recognised a new blood group system named EMM-negative, also known as Gwada negative.
▪ This designation emerged from the unique case of a woman from Guadeloupe who is the only known individual to possess this rare blood type.
▪ The discovery puts stress on advancements in transfusion medicine and genetic research.
▪ Gwada negative refers to the EMM-negative blood group system, identified by the absence of the EMM antigen on red blood cells.
▪ This antigen is a high-incidence antigen, present in almost all humans.
▪ The lack of such a common antigen is medically and has led to the classification of this blood type as the 48th globally recognised system in transfusion science.
