A woman in India has been diagnosed with a unique blood type

Doctors in the southern Indian state of Karnataka have discovered a previously unknown blood group antigen in their patient, which has never been found anywhere else in the world, The New Indian Express reports.

Previously unknown mutations associated with pulmonary hypertension have been discovered. Editing the genome of blood stem cells accelerates their aging.

“Using advanced serological methods, our team found that his blood was ‘pan-reactive’, incompatible with all test samples. Recognizing this as a possible case of a rare or unknown blood type, we collected blood samples from 20 family members to find a compatible match, but none were found,” Ankit Mathur, a surgeon at Kolar Hospital, told the publication. The surgery was successful, without the need for a blood transfusion.

Some immunologists believe that the Indian woman’s previously unknown blood type may be due to the country’s tradition of consanguineous marriages.