Rare Blood Type Hunt Helps Save UAE Resident

Publish date: Thursday، 03 June 2021

A Filipino Abu Dhabi residents’ life was saved after a global search for a rare blood was brought from foreign donors.

Before surgeons could operate on Daina Bautista, 6 units of relatively rare blood group, B+ blood which lacks JK3 protein had to be received.

Bautista could only receive blood from donors who both matched her type and lacked that specific protein.

Providing 6 units of blood was difficult given the rarity of this specific phenotype coupled with her uncommon blood type.

Ms Bautista had three damaged heart valves, which she discovered back in 2018.

Last year her condition deteriorated significantly, and she was admitted to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

Rare Blood Type Hunt Helps Save UAE Resident

“At first, I was able to live my life as normal. I knew something was wrong, but I wanted to focus on my work and family,” Ms Bautista said.

"Eventually, I couldn’t walk for more than a few minutes without losing my breath and needing to rest. I was always short of breath and even everyday tasks became very hard for me. I knew it was time to go back to the doctor and finally get my heart fixed."

Dr Algora, clinical pathologist and director of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s blood bank, and his team worked with Abu Dhabi Blood Bank to find suitable donors. One compatible match was finally found in Abu Dhabi and donated one of the six units needed.

Image Credit: Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi

Rare Blood Type Hunt Helps Save UAE Resident

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Rare Blood Type Hunt Helps Save UAE Resident

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