WANA (Aug 04) – A routine surgery to correct scoliosis turned into a medical puzzle for doctors when 9-year-old Shahrzad Ashouri’s blood refused to match any prepared blood packs. Initially assumed to be O positive, the standard blood type for transfusion was set accordingly. However, during the crucial crossmatch test, Shahrzad’s immune system rejected all O-positive and even O-negative blood donations.

 

Shahrzad, who was admitted for spinal correction surgery, surprised the medical team with an extremely rare blood group that was neither O positive nor the exceptionally rare Bombay blood type. This unexpected discovery forced doctors to pause the surgery for over an hour and a half while a specialized blood transfusion solution was sought.

 

According to Shahrzad’s mother, “The surgeons told us her body had antibodies that reject donated blood. No one expected to face such a rare case.” After surgery was halted, her blood samples were sent to the national blood transfusion organization for further analysis.

 

Initially, the team suspected she might have the Bombay blood group, known for lacking the H antigen and considered ‘neutral’ blood, only transfusable from matching donors. Subsequent tests revealed she did not have the Bombay type either, but likely a ‘para-Bombay’ variant or possibly a completely new mutation.

 

The Blood Transfusion Organization coordinated to secure two units of Bombay blood from donors in Isfahan and Shiraz. Fortunately, the neutral properties of this blood allowed the operation to resume and complete successfully. “Surgeons were very cautious to minimize tissue bleeding, as there was no alternative blood available,” her mother said.

WANA - Shahrzad Ashouri

Shahrzad Ashouri. Social media/ WANA News Agency

Currently, Shahrzad’s blood samples have been sent abroad for advanced genotyping to pinpoint the exact mutation. The Blood Transfusion Organization confirmed the blood type represents a rare mutation, with official results expected in the coming weeks.

 

Now recovering at home, Shahrzad is in good condition, though her mother expresses concerns about the future. “There is very limited information available. Even artificial intelligence cannot provide answers about a blood group that is neither Bombay nor para-Bombay,” she said.

 

Remarkably, Shahrzad’s rare blood type showed no outward symptoms prior to surgery. Her mother explained, “The only unusual sign was an elevated white blood cell count in routine tests, which doctors did not associate with any particular disease. Such rare blood groups are typically detected only during surgeries or transfusions. Otherwise, standard tests show them as O positive.”

 

The family is anxious about waiting months for definitive test results and hopes the healthcare system will be better equipped for such rare cases in the future. The Blood Transfusion Organization also announced plans to issue Shahrzad an identification card for her blood type, enabling faster recognition in emergencies.

 

For now, Shahrzad is resting at home and advised to avoid heavy activities for the next two months. Her mother remains hopeful: “Thank God the surgery was successful. Now we wait for the blood type results so we can be prepared for what’s ahead.”