WIENER, ALEXANDER S.

WIENER, ALEXANDER S. (1907–1976), U.S. immunohematologist. Born and educated in New York, he was appointed professor of forensic medicine at the New York University School of Medicine in 1938. Together with karl landsteiner , Wiener discovered the Rh human blood factor. He also worked out in detail the serology, genetics, and nomenclature of the entire Rh blood group system. He discovered the Rh blocking antibody and was the first to introduce exchange transfusion for the treatment of erythroblastosis fetalis. Other blood group factors discovered by Wiener include Kell, Ca, U, Me, and the I-i blood group system. Wiener wrote books and articles in the field of blood groups and acted as a member of the editorial boards of several leading medical publications. -BIBLIOGRAPHY: S.R. Kagan, Jewish Medicine (1952), 273–4. (Fred Rosner)