Blood groups and Rhesus status as potential predictors of outcomes in patients with cardiac resynchronisation therapy

Cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) improves prognosis in patients with heart failure (HF) however the role of ABO blood groups and Rhesus factor are poorly understood. We hypothesise that blood groups may influence clinical and survival outcomes in HF patients undergoing CRT. A total of 499 patients with HF who fulfilled the criteria for CRT implantation were included. Primary outcome of all-cause mortality and/or heart transplant/left ventricular assist device was assessed over a median follow-up of 4.6 years (IQR 2.3-7.5). Online repositories were searched to provide biological context to the identified associations. Patients were divided into blood (O, A, B, and AB) and Rhesus factor (Rh-positive and Rh-negative) groups. Mean patient age was 66.4 ± 12.8 years with a left ventricular ejection fraction of 29 ± 11%. There were no baseline differences in age, gender, and cardioprotective medication. In a Cox proportional hazard multivariate model, only Rh-negative blood group was associated with a significant survival benefit (HR 0.68 [0.47-0.98], p = 0.040). No association was observed for the ABO blood group (HR 0.97 [0.76-1.23], p = 0.778). No significant interaction was observed with prevention, disease aetiology, and presence of defibrillator. Rhesus-related genes were associated with erythrocyte and platelet function, and cholesterol and glycated haemoglobin levels. Four drugs under development targeting RHD were identified (Rozrolimupab, Roledumab, Atorolimumab, and Morolimumab). Rhesus blood type was associated with better survival in HF patients with CRT. Further research into Rhesus-associated pathways and related drugs, namely whether there is a cardiac signal, is required.

Reduced susceptibility to COVID-19 associated with ABO blood group and pre-existing anti-A and anti-B antibodies

BACKGROUND

Susceptibility to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 shows individual variability in un-vaccinated and previously un-exposed individuals. We investigated the impact of ABO blood group, titers of anti-A and anti-B, other blood group antigens, and the extracellular deposition of ABH antigens as controlled by secretor fucosyltransferase 2 (FUT2) status.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

We studied incidents in three different hospitals between April to September 2020, where un-diagnosed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients were cared for by health care workers without use of personal protection and with close contact while delivering therapy. We recruited 108 exposed staff, of whom 34 were diagnosed with COVID-19. ABO blood type, titer of anti-A and -B, blood group specific alleles, and secretor status were determined.

RESULTS

Blood group O was associated with lower risk of COVID-19 (OR 0.39, 95 %CI (0.16-0.92), p = 0.03) compared to non-O, i.e., blood groups A, B and AB. High titer anti-A immunoglobulin G (IgG) compared to low titer was associated with lower risk of COVID-19 (OR 0.24 95 %CI (0.07-0.78), p = 0.017). High titer of anti-B immunoglobulin M (IgM) compared to no anti-B (IgM) was associated with lower risk of COVID-19 (OR 0.16, 95 %CI (0.039-0.608), p = 0.006) and the same applies to low titer anti-B (IgM) compared to no titer (OR 0.23, 95 %CI (0.07-0.72), p = 0.012). The 33Pro variant in Integrin beta-3, that is part of human platelet antigen 1b (HPA-1b), was associated with lower risk of COVID-19 (OR 0.23, 95 %CI (0.034-0.86), p = 0.028).

CONCLUSION

Our data showed that blood group O, anti-A (IgG) titer, anti-B (IgM) titer as well as HPA-1b are associated with lower risk for COVID-19.

Triad of Cheiloscopy, Dactyloscopy, and Blood Groups: Does it Signify Anything?

Background

The knowledge and importance of blood groups emerged from transfusion medicine and its relation with certain malignancies has been proven. Its importance in forensic medicine was brought to light when its association was found with the distribution of finger patterns. Thus, few studies exist proving the relationship between dactyloscopy and blood groups. Cheiloscopy on other hand is the study of the irregularities present on the lips forming a unique arrangement called the prints of the lip.

Aim

Our paper aims at elucidating any unique combination if any that exists between prints on lips, prints of fingers, and blood grouping in a specific population, which might help in the identification of an individual.

Materials and Methods

A total of 100 subjects of age varying from 15 to 40 years were included in the study. Subjects comprised of 50 males and 50 females. All the subjects were examined and their prints of lips along with prints of their fingers were taken. Blood groups were determined for each patient using the ABO system.

Results

Type I was found to be the predominant pattern of lips and whorl arrangement was the most recorded type of fingerprint in males whereas Type II arrangement along with loop prints of fingers was most observed in the case of females. The most common blood group in males was B+ and in females was O+ . Correlation between three parameters was obtained by Pearson correlation statistical analysis.

Conclusion

The prints of the lips and fingers of an individual have never been similar and they tend to remain the same from a person's birth until his death. An association between the three things of an individual that is prints of lips, fingers, and his blood group has been tried to be elucidated through the present research to aid in forensic identification.

ABO blood types, but not Secretor or Lewis blood types, influence strength of antibody response to Hepatitis B vaccine in Black South African children

Subunit vaccines for the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) have greatly reduced the prevalence of infection and morbidity through HBV-related liver cirrhosis and cancer. However, strength of immune response to vaccination varies considerably. While it is known that ABO blood types may influence HBV infection risk, the role of ABO and related blood types in strength of immune response to HBV vaccine has not been investigated. We examined 16 polymorphisms in the ABO, FUT2, and FUT3 genes and their related phenotypes for associations with strength of antibody response to HBV vaccine in Black South African infants. Anti-HBc and anti-HBs antibody levels were measured by CMIA assay 1-3 months after the last dose of HBV vaccine. Prior infection occurred in 8/207 individuals (3.86%) who were removed from further study. Of the remaining 199 individuals, 83.4% individuals were strong responders (anti-HBs ≥ 100 mIU/ml, median 973 mIU/ml), another 15.6% were weak responders (anti-HBs < 100 mIU/ml, median 50 mIU/ml) and 1% were non-responders (anti-HBs < 10 mIU/ml). The frequency of weak responders to HBV vaccine was not significantly affected by sex, birthweight, use of an additional booster dose of vaccine or cohort of origin. We characterised patterns of genetic variation present at the ABO, FUT2 and FUT3 loci by use of MassArray genotyping and used these data to predict ABO, Secretor and Lewis phenotypes. We observed significant association of ABO blood type with strength of antibody response to HBV vaccine in a Black South African cohort (p = 0.002). In particular, presence of rs8176747G and expression of B antigen (whether in B blood type or AB blood type) was associated with decreased antibody response to HBV vaccine. Secretor and Lewis blood types were not associated with antibody response to HBV vaccine. This work increases our understanding of the impact that host genetic variation may have on vaccine immunogenicity.

Human genetics in post-WWII Italy: blood, genes and platforms

Italian Life sciences in post-WWII faced important challenges: the reconstruction of a scientific panorama suffering heavily after two decades of Fascism and the damages of war. Modernization was not only a matter of recreating a favorable environment for research, by modernizing Italian biomedical institutions and connecting the Italian scientists with the new ideas coming from abroad. The introduction of new genetics required a new array of concepts and instruments, but also, the ability to connect to international networks and to become active members of a broader scientific community. Because of the several socio-cultural issues involved (eugenics, racism, religion, politics), human genetics is a good case study in order to analyze how Italian life sciences managed the transition towards a new research system, and the influences Italian human geneticists received. The paper focuses primarily on the development of the early career of Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza, probably the most prominent scientist in post-WWII human genetics in Italy, and his friend and colleague Ruggero Ceppellini. In following their path, a healthy mix of local traditions and international stimuli emerges, allowing for the establishment-within and beyond national borders-of the discipline.

ABO-Rh Blood Types and Clinical Consequences of COVID-19 Infection

AIM AND BACKGROUND

Because of there is no sufficient evidence showing a relationship between blood types and severity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, this study was planned to investigate the effects of ABO blood group on the clinical outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The data of the patients were examined retrospectively. The patients who were hospitalized in wards or intensive care unit, constituted the study group. The patients who presented to the hospital because of other causes and whose blood type examinations were performed, were included in the control group.

RESULTS

The study group consisted of 406 six patients were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Control group consisted of 38079 patients whose blood group was determined for any reason in the same period. The rate of Rh negativity was significantly higher in the patient group (p = 0,01). Hospitalization duration in intensive care was significantly longer in the blood type A and AB groups compared to the blood type O group (p = 0,03).

CONCLUSION

Our results are in agreement with other studies suggesting that blood group O individuals are somewhat more resistant to clinically overt infection with SARS-CoV-2 than other blood groups. In addition, Rh negativity may also be an individual risk factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Association Between ABO Blood Group System and COVID-19 Severity

OBJECTIVES

A possible association between blood group systems (ABO and Rh) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity has recently been investigated by various studies with conflicting results. However, due to variations in the prevalence of the ABO and Rh blood groups in different populations, their association with COVID-19 might be varied as well. Therefore, we conducted this study on Libyan participants to further investigate this association and make population-based data available to the worldwide scientific community.

METHODS

In this case-control study, ABO and Rh blood groups in 419 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Zawia, Libya, and 271 healthy controls were compared using descriptive statistics and χ 2 tests.

RESULTS

Blood group A was significantly more prevalent in patients with severe COVID-19 (64/125; 51.2%) than in patients with nonsevere COVID-19 (108/294, 36.7%) (P < .034), whereas the O blood group prevalence was higher in nonsevere COVID-19 cases (131/294, 44.5%) compared with severe cases (43/125, 34.4%) (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

The results showed a significant association between blood group A and the severity of COVID-19, whereas patients with blood group O showed a low risk of developing severe COVID-19 infection. No significant association was found between Rh and susceptibility/severity of the disease.

Role of the ABO Blood Groups as a Risk Factor for Retinal Vein Occlusion

INTRODUCTION

A recent study suggested that non-O blood groups had an increased risk for the presence of retinal vein occlusion (RVO). In this study, we investigated (i) an association between blood group and the presence of RVO and (ii) whether this association correlated to other RVO risk factors.

METHODS

We included 485 RVO patients and 295 control subjects who were recruited in this case-control study. We determined ABO genotypes rs8176719 as a marker for the O allele and rs8176746 for the B allele by polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

We did not find an association between ABO blood group and the presence of RVO. In detail, the proportion of ABO blood groups was similar among RVO patients and control subjects (p = 0.527). In a logistic regression, non-O blood group was associated with 1.06-fold higher odds of being a RVO patient (95% CI: 0.78-1.45, p = 0.693), and this lack of association prevailed upon multivariable adjustment for age, gender, history of stroke and venous thromboembolism, and co-medication with lipid-lowering agents.

DISCUSSION

Although non-O blood groups are a known risk factor for thrombotic and cardiovascular disease, they do not seem to be a major risk factor for the development of RVO.

Association of blood group A with hospital comorbidity in patients infected by SARS-CoV-2

Background and objectives

In the pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, identifying which risk factors are associated with the most serious forms of the disease is important. Blood group A has been presented in various studies as a poor prognostic factor. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether patients with blood group A were associated with more important comorbidities, measured by the Charlson Index, which may explain their worse clinical evolution.

Patients and methods

A prospective and consecutive study examined 100 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and admitted in March 2020. A multivariate linear regression model was used to evaluate the association of blood group A with the Charlson Index.

Results

Patients in group A had a higher Charlson Index (P = .037), rate of lymphopenia (P = .039) and thrombopenia (P = .014), and hospital mortality (P = .044). Blood group A was an independent factor associated with the Charlson Index (B 0.582, 95% CI 0.02-1.14, P = .041).

Conclusions

Group A was independently associated with greater comorbidity, associated with an increase of 0.582 points in the Charlson Index compared to other blood groups. It was also associated with lower hospital mortality.

Linkages between blood groups and malaria susceptibility

Blood typing has revolutionized the field of medical science since its discovery about a century ago. Besides its established role in life-saving blood transfusions, researchers have always been curious about the relationship between blood groups and human ailments. The effect of blood groups on disease outcomes, susceptibility, and mortality has been widely explored. According to a particular school of thought, the endemicity of diseases shapes the distribution of blood group frequency in human populations and exert selection pressure favoring one blood type over another. Here we discuss the scope and association of different blood groups in the context of malaria.

Association between ABO and RH blood groups and Hepatitis B virus infection among young Nigerian adults

BACKGROUND

Several diseases are reported to be associated with ABO/Rh blood groups. Data on the association between ABO and Rh D blood group antigens in the Nigerian population is sparse. This study aimed at determining the prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection as well as its association with ABO and Rh D antigens among young Nigerian adults.

METHODS

Whole blood was collected from 496 students and screened for the presence of HBsAg using an immuno-chromatographic technique. The ABO and Rh D antigen status of participants were also determined using standard techniques.

RESULTS

In this study, the prevalence of HBV infection was 10/496 (2.10%). Of all factors assessed, only age of participants was identified as a risk factor (P < 0.05) for HBV seropositivity. Over half 257/496 (51.5%) of subjects were of the blood group O type, while 18/496 (3.6%) were of the AB blood type which was the least in occurrence. Rh D negative blood group was observed among 24/496 (4.8%) subjects. Those with the B blood type were observed to have an insignificantly (P > 0.05) higher prevalence of HBV infection. However, with respect to Rh D antigen alone, participants negative for the antigen were observed to have a five times higher risk of acquiring HBV infection than those positive for it (OR = 5.273, 95% CI = 1.056, 26.321, P > 0.05). Combining the ABO and Rh blood group systems, an association (OR = 20.174; P > 0.05) was found to exist between B Rh D negative status and HBV infection.

CONCLUSION

Possession of B antigen without Rh D antigen is associated with increased risk of acquiring HBV infection.

RBCeq: A robust and scalable algorithm for accurate genetic blood typing

Background

While blood transfusion is an essential cornerstone of hematological care, patients requiring repetitive transfusion remain at persistent risk of alloimmunization due to the diversity of human blood group polymorphisms. Despite the promise, user friendly methods to accurately identify blood types from next-generation sequencing data are currently lacking. To address this unmet need, we have developed RBCeq, a novel genetic blood typing algorithm to accurately identify 36 blood group systems.

Methods

RBCeq can predict complex blood groups such as RH, and ABO that require identification of small indels and copy number variants. RBCeq also reports clinically significant, rare, and novel variants with potential clinical relevance that may lead to the identification of novel blood group alleles.

Findings

The RBCeq algorithm demonstrated 99·07% concordance when validated on 402 samples which included 29 antigens with serology and 9 antigens with SNP-array validation in 14 blood group systems and 59 antigens validation on manual predicted phenotype from variant call files. We have also developed a user-friendly web server that generates detailed blood typing reports with advanced visualization (https://www.rbceq.org/).

Interpretation

RBCeq will assist blood banks and immunohematology laboratories by overcoming existing methodological limitations like scalability, reproducibility, and accuracy when genotyping and phenotyping in multi-ethnic populations. This Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud based platform has the potential to reduce pre-transfusion testing time and to increase sample processing throughput, ultimately improving quality of patient care.

Funding

This work was supported in part by Advance Queensland Research Fellowship, MRFF Genomics Health Futures Mission (76,757), and the Australian Red Cross LifeBlood. The Australian governments fund the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood for the provision of blood, blood products and services to the Australian community.

Association of blood group A with hospital comorbidity in patients infected by SARS-CoV-2

Fundamento y objetivos

En la pandemia provocada por SARS-CoV-2 es importante identificar qué factores de riesgo se asocian a las formas más graves de la enfermedad. El grupo sanguíneo A se ha presentado en diversos estudios como factor de mal pronóstico. El objetivo de este estudio radica en evaluar si los pacientes de grupo sanguíneo A asocian comorbilidades más importantes, medido por el Índice de Charlson, que puedan justificar también su peor evolución clínica.

Pacientes y método

Estudio prospectivo y consecutivo con 100 pacientes diagnosticados de COVID-19 ingresados en marzo de 2020. Se empleó un modelo de regresión lineal multivariante para evaluar la asociación del grupo sanguíneo A con el Índice de Charlson.

Resultados

Los pacientes del grupo A presentaron mayor índice de Charlson (p = 0,037), linfopenia (p = 0,039), trombocitopenia (p = 0,014) y mortalidad hospitalaria (p = 0,044).

El grupo sanguíneo A demostró ser un factor independiente asociado a dicho índice (B 0,582; IC 95% [0,02-1,14], p = 0,041).

Conclusiones

El grupo A se asocia de forma independiente a mayor comorbilidad, asociando un incremento de 0,582 puntos en el índice de Charlson con respecto al resto de grupos sanguíneos. Además, asocia una tendencia de menor mortalidad hospitalaria.

Prognostic relevance of ABO blood group system in non-metastatic renal cell carcinoma: An analysis of two independent European cohorts with long-term follow-up

BACKGROUND

The ABO blood group system has been previously discussed as a risk factor to develop, as well as a prognostic factor in non-metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Controversial findings have been reported in different populations of RCC patients with rather short follow-up periods. In this study, we aimed to clarify the distribution and prognostic role of ABO blood groups upon 15 years of median follow-up in non-metastatic RCC patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We evaluated the distribution and prognostic significance of ABO blood group system in two independent cohorts (n = 405 and n = 1473) of non-metastatic RCC patients, who underwent curative (partial or total) nephrectomy between 1998 and 2012 at two tertiary academic centers. Cancer-specific survival, metastasis-free survival, as well as overall survival (OS) were assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method, univariable- and multivariable Cox regression models were applied, respectively.

RESULTS

In the two cohorts, blood groups were not associated with any clinical endpoints (for cohort 2: Cancer-specific survival (HR = 1.233; 95%CI 0.998-1.523, P = 0.052), metastasis-free survival (HR = 1.161; 95%CI 0.952-1.416, P = 0.142) and OS (HR = 1.037; 95%CI 0.890-1.208, P = 0.641), respectively). Compared to 250.298 healthy blood-donors of the Styrian state, the distribution of blood groups was (624 (42.4%) versus 106.861 (42.7%) in group A, 191 (13%) vs. 34.164 (13.7%) in group B, 575 (39%) versus 93.579 (37.4%) in group O and 83 (5.6%) vs. 15.694 (6.3%), P = 0.467).

CONCLUSION

In this large study with the longest period of follow-up reported to date, the ABO blood group system could not be validated as a prognostic factor in predicting important clinical endpoints in non-metastatic RCC patients.

ABO blood groups, COVID-19 infection and mortality

BACKGROUND

A recent study showed that the ABO gene, chr 9q34.2, which determines blood type, may affect COVID-19 disease severity, although this result has not been reproducible. A UK study of 2200 COVID-19 patients found no relationship of ABO blood type to disease severity. A Danish study identified ABO blood group as a risk factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection but not for hospitalization or death from COVID-19.

AIM

In the current study, we wished to analyze the relationship of ABO blood group and the ABO genetic locus to COVID-19 test positivity and mortality in subjects from the UK Biobank (UKB).

METHODS

ABO blood type is from UKB data field 23165. Blood type was imputed for genotyped UK Biobank participants using three SNPs (rs505922, rs8176719, and rs8176746) in the ABO gene on chromosome 9q34.2. We analyzed the chromosome 9 snp rs657152 to assess the relationship of the ABO locus to COVID-19 test positivity and mortality.

RESULTS

COVID-19 test results (negative or positive) were not related to blood group in males (p = 0.977, two tailed Fisher exact test) or females (p = 0.548). COVID-19 outcomes (alive or died) were not related to blood group in males (p = 0.102, two tailed Fisher exact test) or females (p = 0.226). We found no significant relationship of rs657152 to COVID-19 test positivity or mortality.

CONCLUSION

We were not able to confirm that ABO blood group influences risk of COVID-19 infection or outcome.

Association of blood groups on the risk of COVID-19 infection, morbidity, and mortality

OBJECTIVE:

We aimed to compare the effects of blood groups and Rh factor on the development of coronavirus-19 disease (COVID-19) with all aspects such as clinical course, inflammatory parameters, and organ-specific biochemical parameters with a significant number of patients.

METHODS:

This multicenter study was carried out retrospectively on 3551 patients hospitalized with the diagnosis of COVID-19 and whose blood groups were recorded during the time of hospitalization. As control groups, 22133 individuals’ medical data who were admitted to the blood bank affiliated with our hospitals during the last year was used. The differences between the blood groups and clinical characteristics were analyzed.

RESULTS:

Of the 3551 patients, A Rh (+) blood group was found to be in a higher ratio in the case group than controls, with increased risk to be infected (case: 41.3% vs. control: 38.8%), (OR 1.113; 95% CI: 1.036–1.197; p=0.003). Meanwhile O Rh (+) blood group ratios were significantly lower in the case group than in the control group (case: 26% vs. control: 28.3%) (OR 0.862; 95% CI: 0.823–0.966; p=0.005). There was no significant difference between blood groups in terms of admission to the intensive care units and mortality, it was observed that patients with AB Rh (+) blood group have a greater risk for intubation than others (OR: 1.467; 95% CI: 1.040–2.071; p=0.028).

CONCLUSION:

We demonstrated that people with blood group A Rh (+) more susceptible to COVID-19, whereas blood group 0 Rh (+) have a protective effect against the infection. Once a person has been infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, we should be mindful that patients with blood group AB Rh (+) would be prone to intubation more than other blood groups.

The role of iron in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and possible treatment with lactoferrin and other iron chelators

Iron overload is increasingly implicated as a contributor to the pathogenesis of COVID-19. Indeed, several of the manifestations of COVID-19, such as inflammation, hypercoagulation, hyperferritinemia, and immune dysfunction are also reminiscent of iron overload. Although iron is essential for all living cells, free unbound iron, resulting from iron dysregulation and overload, is very reactive and potentially toxic due to its role in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS react with and damage cellular lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins, with consequent activation of either acute or chronic inflammatory processes implicated in multiple clinical conditions. Moreover, iron-catalyzed lipid damage exerts a direct causative effect on the newly discovered nonapoptotic cell death known as ferroptosis. Unlike apoptosis, ferroptosis is immunogenic and not only leads to amplified cell death but also promotes a series of reactions associated with inflammation. Iron chelators are generally safe and are proven to protect patients in clinical conditions characterized by iron overload. There is also an abundance of evidence that iron chelators possess antiviral activities. Furthermore, the naturally occurring iron chelator lactoferrin (Lf) exerts immunomodulatory as well as anti-inflammatory effects and can bind to several receptors used by coronaviruses thereby blocking their entry into host cells. Iron chelators may consequently be of high therapeutic value during the present COVID-19 pandemic.

Efficacy of convalescent plasma according to blood groups in COVID-19 patients

Background/aim

In this study, we aim to investigate the efficacy of convalescent plasma (CP) according to blood groups (BGs) in the treatment of critically ill patients diagnosed with COVID-19.

Materials and methods

Twenty-eight critically ill and laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Sakarya University, Medical Faculty were included in the study. Patients were divided into 2 groups: patients who received anti-A antibody (Ab) containing CP (BG O and B) and those who did not receive CP containing anti-A Ab (BG A and AB).

Results

Among the 28 patients, 13 patients received anti-A Ab containing CP (BG; B: 6, O: 7) and 15 patients did not receive anti-A Ab CP (BG; A: 13, AB: 2). Duration in ICU, the rates of mechanical ventilation (MV) support and vasopressor support, the case fatality rate, and the discharge rate were lower in patients who received CP containing anti-A Ab than not containing anti-A Ab CP. However, only the difference in the rate of MV support achieved statistically significance (P = 0.04)

Conclusion

In our study, it was observed that the efficiency of CP without anti-A antibody was lower than that of plasma containing anti-A antibody, although it was not statistically significant. This result is thought to be due to the anti-A antibody’s ability to block the ACE2 receptor. We believe that this hypothesis should be investigated in controlled studies with higher patient numbers.

Susceptibility to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is associated with ABO and Rh blood groups: a case-control study from Afghanistan

Background

There are preliminary studies about the association between COVID-19 and ABO phenotypes and the results are controversial. There are only two studies which investigated the association of Rh blood groups in addition to ABO with COVID-19; however, in the statistical analysis ABO and Rh blood groups have been considered separately. Therefore, the present case-control study was performed to determine the association of COVID-19 with ABO blood groups considering the Rh blood groups simultaneously. The study was conducted in Kunduz COVID-19 treatment specific center, Spin-Zar Hospital (Kunduz Province, North East Afghanistan). A total of 301 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 1039 healthy blood donors as control group were included in the study.

Results

The Rh- phenotype strongly increased the risk of COVID-19 (OR = 2.97, 95% CI 1.86-3.89, P < 0.001). Although blood group A increased the risk of developing COVID-19, the association did not reach statistical significance. In analysis of the combination phenotypes, the A- blood group remarkably increased the risk of COVID-19 (OR = 7.24, 95% CI 3.62-14.4, P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that the interaction of Rh and ABO is significant (P < 0.013).

Conclusion

These findings indicate that susceptibility to COVID-19 is strongly associated with A- blood group.

An association between fingerprint patterns with blood group and lifestyle based diseases: a review

In the current era of the digital world, the hash of any digital means considered as a footprint or fingerprint of any digital term but from the ancient era, human fingerprint considered as the most trustworthy criteria for identification and it also cannot be changed with time even up to the death of an individual. In the court of law, fingerprint-proof is undeniably the most dependable and acceptable evidence to date. Fingerprint designs are exclusive in each human and the chance of two individuals having identical fingerprints is an exceptional case about one in sixty-four thousand million also the fingerprint minutiae patterns of the undistinguishable twins are different, and the ridge pattern of each fingertip remain unchanged from birth to till death. Fingerprints can be divided into basic four categories i.e. Loop, whorl, arch, and composites, nevertheless, there are more than 100 interleaved ridge and valleys physiognomies, called Galton’s details, in a single rolled fingerprint. Due to the immense potential of fingerprints as an effective method of identification, the present research paper tries to investigate the problem of blood group identification and analysis of diseases those arises with aging like hypertension, type 2-diabetes and arthritis from a fingerprint by analyzing their patterns correlation with blood group and age of an individual. The work has been driven by studies of anthropometry, biometric trademark, and pattern recognition proposing that it is possible to predict blood group using fingerprint map reading. Dermatoglyphics as a diagnostic aid used from ancient eras and now it is well established in number of diseases which have strong hereditary basis and is employed as a method for screening for abnormal anomalies. Apart from its use in predicting the diagnosis of disease; dermatoglyphics is also used in forensic medicine in individual identification, physical anthropology, human genetics and medicine. However, the Machine and Deep Learning techniques, if used for fingerprint minutiae patterns to be trained by Neural Network for blood group prediction and classification of common clinical diseases arises with aging based on lifestyle would be an unusual research work.

Lower prevalence of antibodies neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 in group O French blood donors

We investigated the distribution of antibodies neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 according to age, sex or blood group in French blood donors. In 464 samples collected before the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 (2017 and 2018), our virus neutralization assay had a 100% specificity. It was used to test 998 samples collected from blood donors during the last week of March or the first week of April 2020. As expected at this stage of the outbreak, the prevalence was low (2.7%) and, importantly, criteria for blood donation imply that the vast majority of seropositives had asymptomatic or pauci-symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections. Seroprevalence values did not differ significantly among age groups (but were slightly higher in donors <30yo and ≥60yo), and between males and females (2.82% vs 2.69%), unlike what has been observed regarding hospitalizations admission to ICU and death rates in France. By contrast, we observed that the proportion of seropositives was significantly lower in group O donors (1.32% vs 3.86% in other donors, p = 0.014). We conclude that virus infection seems to occur with a similar incidence in men and women among French blood donors, but that blood group O persons are less at risk of being infected and not only of suffering from severe clinical presentations, as previously suggested.

The effects of blood group types on the risk of COVID-19 infection and its clinical outcome

Background/aim

COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease of 2019) is an infectious disease outbreak later on declared as a pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2). It spreads very rapidly and can result in severe acute respiratory failure. The clinical studies have shown that advanced age and chronic diseases increase the risk of infection. However, influence of the blood groups on COVID-19 infection and its outcome remains to be confirmed. The aim of this study is to investigate whether there exists a relationship between the blood groups of the patients and risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients

Material and method

186 patients with PCR confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 were included in this study. Age, sex, blood groups, comorbidities, need for intubation and intensive care unit follow up and mortalities of the patients were analyzed retrospectively. 1881 healthy individuals, who presented to the Hacettepe University Blood Bank served as the controls.

Results

The most frequently detected blood group was blood group A (57%) amongst the COVID-19 patients. This was followed by blood group O (24.8%). The blood group types did not affect the clinical outcomes. The blood group A was statistically significantly more frequent among those infected with COVID-19 compared to controls (57% vs. 38%, P < 0.001; OR: 2.1). On the other hand, the frequency of blood group O was significantly lower in the COVID-19 patients, compared to the control group (24.8% vs. 37.2%, P: 0.001; OR: 1.8).

Conclusions

The results of the present study suggest that while the blood group A might have a role in increased susceptibility to the COVID-19 infection, the blood group O might be somewhat protective. However, once infected, blood group type does not seem to influence clinical outcome.

Higher Odds of Type 2 Diabetes for Some Blood Groups

BACKGROUND

Diabetes is one of the most common metabolic diseases in humans that cause disruption in glucose and fat metabolism. The determination of the ABO blood group system is hereditary and both diabetes and blood groups have a genetic basis.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate the odds of type 2 diabetes for some blood groups.

METHODS

This case-control study was conducted in hospitals of Kermanshah in 2018. The case group consisted of patients with diabetes admitted to hospital and the control group of nondiabetic patients hospitalized in the surgical ward. Information such as age, sex, BMI, family history of diabetes and blood group is collected and analyzed by the univariate and multivariate logistic regression method.

RESULTS

A total of 750 patients were enrolled in this study. The number of participants in both groups was 375. The average ages of the participants were 50.51 and 51.62 years, respectively. 67.5% of the patients in the case group were female in comparison with 73.6% of those in the control group. The value of Rh+ in the case and control groups was 94.4 and 93.6%, respectively (p = 0.645). The chance of having diabetes for patients with blood group A was 76% higher than for those with blood group O (p = 0.006).

CONCLUSION

According to the results of this study, the odds of type 2 diabetes for people in blood group A was higher than for those in other blood groups. It is recommended that blood group A be considered as a risk factor in the screening of type 2 diabetes.

Molecular Blood Group Screening in Donors from Arabian Countries and Iran Using High-Throughput MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry and PCR-SSP

Background and Aims

Only little is known about blood groups other than ABO blood groups and Rhesus factors in Arabian countries and Iran. During the last years, increased migration to Central Europe has put a focus on the question how to guarantee blood supply for patients from these countries, particularly because hemoglobinopathies with the need of regular blood support are more frequent in patients from that region. Therefore, blood group allele frequencies should be determined in individuals from Arabian countries and Iran by molecular typing and compared to a German rare donor panel.

Methods

1,111 samples including 800 individuals from Syria, 147 from Iran, 123 from the Arabian Peninsula, and 41 from Northern African countries were included in a MALDI-TOF MS assay to detect polymorphisms coding for Kk, Fy(a/b), Fy_null, C_w, Jk(a/b), Jo(a+/a-), Lu(a/b), Lu(8/14), Ss, Do(a/b), Co(a/b), In(a/b), Js(a/b), Kp(a/b), and variant alleles RHCE*c.697C>G and RHCE *c.733C>G. Yt(a/b), S-s-U-, Vel_null, Co_null, and RHCE *c.667G>T were tested by PCR-SSP.

Results

Of the Arabian donors, 2% were homozygous for the FY *02.01N allele (Fy_null), and 15.7% carried the heterozygous mutation. However, 0.8% of the German donors also carried 1 copy of the allele. 3.6% of all and 29.3% of Northern African donors were heterozygous for the RHCE *c.733C>G substitution, 0.4% of the Syrian probands were heterozygous for DO *01/DO *01.-05, a genotype that was lacking in German donors. Whereas the KEL *02.06 allele coding for the Js(a) phenotype was missing in Germans; 0.8% of the Syrian donors carried 1 copy of this allele. 1.8% of the Syrian but only 0.3% of the German donors were negative for YT *01. One donor from Northern Africa homo-zygously carried the GYPB *270+5g>t mutation, inducing the S-s-U+^w phenotype, and in 2 German donors a GYPB *c.161G>A exchange, which induces the Mit+ phenotype, caused a GYPB *03 allele dropout in the MALDI assay. The overall failure rate of the Arabian panel was 0.4%.

Conclusions

Some blood group alleles that are largely lacking in Europeans but had been described in African individuals are present in Arabian populations at a somewhat lower frequency. In single cases, it could be challenging to provide immunized Arabian patients with compatible blood.

The increasing trend of blood donation in Iran

Background

This is the first study on the blood donation trend in Iran at a national level. We report different characteristics of blood donation such as demographic status, donor type, donation trend, and geographical distribution of blood donation in Iran between 2003 and 2017.

Methods

This study used data registered in the donor vigilance part of the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) and ArcMap GIS version 10.2 software. A P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Based on the study results, blood donation in Iran reached >2 million units in 2017; moreover, it is predicted that Iran will achieve >29 donations per 1,000 population in 2022. The proportion of regular and repeated donors increased from 77% in 2013 to 87% in 2017. The average blood donation rate in seven provinces was higher than the national average, and the average growth rate of their blood donation per population was positive.

Conclusion

The results of the current study showed that there is a recent increasing trend toward blood donation in Iran. Furthermore, the largest share of donations is related to regular donors. The increasing proportion of regular and repeated donors has led to the improvement in the quality and consequently health level of donated blood.

Investigation of blood groups in benign thyroid diseases in Turkey

İt is known that there is a relationship between some diseases and blood groups. The objective of our study is to investigate how often ABO and Rh blood groups are seen in benign thyroid diseases, especially in autoimmune-mediated thyroid diseases, and hence whether there is an association between blood groups and thyroid diseases. A total of 958 patients who were followed due to any benign thyroid disease were included in the study. The study population comprised 958 patients, 550 with Hashimoto's hypothyroidism, 160 with non-Hashimoto's hypothyroidism, 103 with iatrogenic hypothyroidism, 93 with central hypothyroidism, and 28 with Graves' and 24 with non-Graves' hyperthyroidism. Of the patients, 47.1% belonged to the O blood group, 30% to the A blood group, 15.2% to the B blood group, and 7.7% to the AB blood group while 90% were Rh-positive. The ratio of those with the O blood group was determined to be significantly higher in the Hashimoto's hypothyroidism group compared to the other disease groups. In the non-Hashimoto's hypothyroidism group, however, the ratio of the AB blood group was statistically significantly higher. While autoimmune diseases were more common in those with the O blood group, they were significantly lower in the AB blood group (p < 0.001). In our study, we determined that the ratio of the O blood group was significantly higher among patients with hypothyroidism due to Hashimoto's thyroiditis. These findings imply that there might be a relation between O blood group and Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Hematopoietic Chimera in a Male Blood Donor and His Dizygotic Twin Sister

Twin hematopoietic chimera in humans is a phenomenon that was discovered accidentally and the prevalence of which remains unclear. The resolution of chimera cases requires studying family medical records, data analysis, and investigations of hematopoietic cells and cells from other tissues. The interactions among ABO, Lewis, and secretor histo-blood group systems are explored to resolve cases of hematopoietic chimera. Here we report a rare case of hematopoietic chimera where twins present a mixed field reaction in the ABO, Rh, and Kidd red blood cell phenotyping. Using red blood cells separated from the mixed field as well as molecular approaches and investigations of family members, we identify inconsistent genotypes with the Mendelian inheritance pattern when comparing the peripheral blood with the buccal epithelium of the male twin and his twin sister. Analysis of the ABO, Lewis, and secretor phenotypes, and genomic DNA from buccal epithelium showed the genotypes ABO*A1.01/ABO*B.01 and FUT2*01N.02/ FUT2*01N.02 in the male twin and the genotypes ABO*O.01.01/ABO*O.01.02 and FUT2*01/FUT2*01 in the female twin. The results of the HLA-DRB1 genotyping showed inconsistency between the male and his twin sister. We conclude that the serological analyses combined with molecular approaches used in this study are good tools to resolve cases of hematopoietic chimera.

Association of ABO blood types and novel obesity markers in healthy adolescents

INTRODUCTION

Association of ABO blood type with body mass index (BMI) was explored in the past studies, but literature on association of novel obesity markerssuch as total body fat and lean body mass (LBM) is scarce. The present study aimed to evaluate the relationship of ABO blood types with novel obesity markers in normal adolescents.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was done on 387 medical students. Bio-impedance analysis (BIA)-derived novel obesity markers such as body fat percent (BFP) and lean body mass (LBM) were recorded. Blood typing was done using slide-agglutination method. Mean and SD were calculated; analysis of variance and Chi-square (χ²) correlation were used to determine the relationship between ABO blood types and obesity markers.

RESULTS

Highest propensity for BFP and LBM was seen in blood groups AB and B (25.09 ± 8.92 and 44.45 ± 6.91) respectively. Highly significant (P < 0.001) differences were observed in the values of BFP and LBM in normal and obese participants across ABO blood types. Prevalence of obesity did not show significant relationship (χ² = 2.069; P = 0.913) with ABO blood types.

CONCLUSIONS

Unlike BMI, novel obesity markers (BFP and LBM) significantly differ across ABO blood groups in normal and obese population. The findings suggest that ABO blood type might have role in determining body composition. This will be helpful in recognition of the participants at the risk of obesity on the basis of their blood groups.

Expression of the GBGT1 Gene and the Forssman Antigen in Red Blood Cells in a Palestinian Population

Background

The Forssman antigen (FORS1 Ag) is expressed on human red blood cells (RBCs). We investigated its presence on RBCs from Palestinian subjects and Swedish subjects by serological testing and by sequencing part of exon 7 of the GBGT1 gene, which encodes Forssman synthase.

Materials and Methods

Blood samples from Palestinian subjects (n = 211 adults and n = 73 newborns) and from Swedish subjects (n = 47 adults) were analyzed in the study. RBCs from the Palestinian samples were typed for the FORS1 Ag using a monoclonal anti-Forssman antibody. The GBGT1 gene was genotyped by DNA sequencing (all adult samples) or by using amplification refractory mutation system PCR (newborn samples).

Results

All of the studied samples were negative for the FORS1 Ag by serologic typing. DNA sequencing of the 3' end of exon 7 of the GBGT1 gene, which includes Arg296, showed that all samples had the wild-type Arg296 sequence, which is associated with an inactive form of Forssman synthase. We detected four single nucleotide polymorphisms in the adult samples; two were silent (p.Tyr232=, p. Gly290=), and two were missense (p. Arg243Cys, p. Arg243His). The allele frequencies ranged from 0.2 to 3.6%. The p. Arg243Cys SNP was a novel SNP that was detected in one Palestinian sample.

Conclusion

Our results confirmed the allelic diversity of GBGT1 and identified a novel nucleotide polymorphism in this gene, p. Arg243Cys. Our results also confirmed that the FORS blood group system is a low-frequency system.

Acute Hemolytic Transfusion Reaction due to Anti-P1: A Case Report and Review of Institutional Experience

Background

Here we report a case of acute hemolytic transfusion reaction (HTR) due to anti-P1 and review our institutional database for prevalence of anti-P1 antibodies and frequency of anti-P1-mediated HTR. Anti-P1 antibodies, reported to be present in up to two-thirds of P₂ individuals, are usually clinically insignificant. However, rare cases of acute HTR due to anti-P1 are reported. Case Report: We report the clinical and laboratory features of a mild acute HTR due to an IgM anti-P1 not detected by a routinely used antibody screening method. We reviewed our institutional database to investigate prevalence of anti-P1 antibodies identified in our patient population and frequency of HTR in patients with anti-P1.

Results

Analysis of RBC transfusion recipient data over the 10-year period from 2006 to 2015 showed prevalence of anti-P1 identified in our laboratory of 174 per 100,000 individuals. Frequency of HTR in patients with anti-P1 identified in our laboratory over a 10-year period was 1 in 1,429 RBC transfusions (0.07%). Conclusion: Our reported case of HTR mediated by IgM anti-P1 reactive at 37 °C confirms the potential of antibody screening methods designed to detect IgG antibodies to miss rare clinically significant IgM antibodies.

Towards a Regional Registry of Extended Typed Blood Donors: Molecular Typing for Blood Group, Platelet and Granulocyte Antigens

BACKGROUND

The provision of compatible blood products to patients is the most essential task of transfusion medicine. Besides ABO and Rh, a number of additional blood group antigens often have to be considered for the blood supply of immunized or chronically transfused patients. It also applies for platelet antigens (HPA) and neutrophil antigens (HNA) for patients receiving platelet or granulocyte concentrates. Here, we describe the molecular screening for a number of blood group, HPA, and HNA alleles. Based on the screening results we are building up a regional blood donor registry to provide extended matched blood products on demand.

METHODS

We developed and validated TaqMan™ PCR and PCR-SSP methods for genetic markers defining 37 clinically relevant blood group antigens (beyond ABO and Rh), 10 HPA, and 11 HNA. Furthermore, we describe a feasible method for fast molecular screening of the HNA-2null phenotype. All data were statistically evaluated regarding genotype distribution. Allele frequencies were compared to ExAC data from non-Finnish Europeans.

RESULTS

Up to now more than 2,000 non-selected regular blood donors in south-west Germany have been screened for blood group, HPA, and HNA alleles. The screening results were confirmed by serology and PCR-SSP methods for selected numbers of samples. The allele frequencies were similar to non-finnish Europeans in the ExAC database except for the alleles encoding the S, HPA-3b and HNA-4b antigens, with significantly lower prevalence in our cohort, as well as the LU14 and the HNA-3b antigens, with a higher frequency compared to the ExAC data. We identified 71 donors with rare blood groups such as Lu(a+b-), Kp(a+b-), Fy(a-b-) and Vel-, and 169 donors with less prevalent HPA or HNA types.

CONCLUSION

Molecular screening for blood group alleles by using TaqMan™ PCR is an effective and reliable high-throughput method for establishing a rare donor registry.

Transfusion Support of Minority Patients: Extended Antigen Donor Typing and Recruitment of Minority Blood Donors

One of the most important and persistent complications of blood transfusion is red blood cell (RBC) alloimmunization. When a patient is exposed to RBC antigens that differ from their own they can form alloantibodies to these foreign antigens. Blood group antigens are highly conserved and follow ancestral patterns of inheritance that may demonstrate population restriction. Minority populations who require chronic transfusion are at particularly high risk of alloimmunization when the blood donor population does not share the same ancestral background, resulting in exposure to non-self RBC antigens. It is incumbent on blood collectors to support patients with risk factors for alloimmunization as well as patients who have already formed alloantibodies. Increasing utilization of RBC genotyping may represent an opportunity to improve access to RBC units from donors that match the extended RBC phenotype of all possible patients.

Low-Frequency Blood Group Antigens in Switzerland

Background

High-frequency blood group antigens (HFA) are present in >90% of the human population, according to some reports even in >99% of individuals. Therefore, patients lacking HFA may become challenging for transfusion support because compatible blood is hardly found, and if the patient carries alloantibodies, the cross-match will be positive with virtual every red cell unit tested.

Methods

In this study, we applied high-throughput blood group SNP genotyping on >37,000 Swiss blood donors, intending to identify homozygous carriers of low-frequency blood group antigens (LFA).

Results

326 such individuals were identified and made available to transfusion specialists for future support of patients in need of rare blood products.

Conclusion

Thorough comparison of minor allele frequencies using population genetics revealed heterogeneity of allele distributions among Swiss blood donors which may be explained by the topographical and cultural peculiarities of Switzerland. Moreover, geographically localized donor subpopulations are described which contain above-average numbers of individuals carrying rare blood group genotypes.

Association of ABO blood groups and Rh factor with retinal and choroidal thickness

PURPOSE:

To evaluate if ABO blood group and Rh factor have an effect on retinal and choroidal thickness.

METHODS:

This study was designed prospectively. Retinal nerve fiber layer, retinal, and choroidal thicknesses were measured with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Retinal and choroidal thickness measurements (one subfoveal, three temporal, and three nasal) were obtained at 500-μm intervals up to 1500 μm with the caliper system.

RESULTS:

In this study, 109 male and 151 female, 260 individuals in total were included. There were 125 subjects in group A, 29 in group B, 34 in group AB, and 72 in group O. Rh factor was positive in 194 subjects and negative in 66. There was no significant difference between the groups regarding age (p = 0.667). The groups did not show any statistical difference in retinal nerve fiber layer thickness. There was significant difference found for mean retinal thickness at temporal 1000 μm when four groups were compared (p = 0.037). No statistically significant difference was detected for the remaining retinal and choroidal sectoral regions. The groups did not statistically significantly differ concerning Rh factor (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION:

Although we found a significant difference in retinal thickness in the temporal retina between group B with group A and group O, we suggest that both blood group and Rh factor have no effect on retinal and choroidal thickness.

How good is the obesity associated with blood groups in a cohort of female university going students?

Objective:

To find out frequency of obesity in female University students in Faisalabad and to investigate its association with blood groups of ABO system.

Methods:

A cross sectional study was conducted with a sample size of 200 female University students, recruited from the Faisalabad based institutes from May 2017 to July 2017. Relevant information was taken by administering questionnaire. Height in meters and weight in kg were taken by stadiometer. BMI was calculated using formula BMI=weight in kg/height m². Blood groups were determined by classic (antigen-antibody agglutination test). The data was analyzed through SPSS 20. Descriptive were presented as mean± SD and association of BMI with blood groups was assessed by regression analysis. P value ≤0.05 deemed statistically significant.

Results:

Out of students, 192 attempted the questionnaire and participated in study (96% response rate), 30% of the 192 females were obese, distribution of ABO blood group showed 43%, followed by O, A and AB. 90% were Rh positive and 10% were Rh negative. Blood group O showed a trend towards obesity and blood group AB showed a trend towards lean body.

Conclusion:

The blood group O showed the significant positive association with obesity. Population with blood group O showed greatest susceptibility to be overweight and obese.

Transfusion Medicine and Molecular Genetic Methods

Transfusion procedures are always complicated by potential genetic mismatching between donor and recipient. Compatibility is determined by several major antigens, such as the ABO and Rhesus blood groups. Matching for other blood groups (Kell, Kidd, Duffy, and MNS), human platelet antigens, and human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) also contributes toward the successful transfusion outcomes, especially in multitransfused or highly immunized patients. All these antigens of tissue identity are highly polymorphic and thus present great challenges for finding suitable donors for transfusion patients. The ABO blood group and HLA markers are also the determinants of transplant compatibility, and mismatched antigens will cause graft rejection or graft-versus-host disease. Thus, a single and comprehensive registry covering all of the significant transfusion and transplantation antigens is expected to become an important tool in providing an efficient service capable of delivering safe blood and quickly locating matching organs/stem cells. This review article is intended as an accessible guide for physicians who care for transfusion-dependent patients. In particular, it serves to introduce the new molecular screening methods together with the biology of these systems, which underlies the tests.

The relationship between immunogenic red blood cell antigens and Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection

INTRODUCTION

Evidence suggests that red cell antigens may act as receptors for viruses and bacteria and therefore could be associated with HIV infection. Previous studies have been controversial and therefore the aim of this exploratory study was to analyse the expression of immunogenic red cell antigens in HIV-seropositive individuals and to compare the results to negative donors from South Africa.

METHODS

The expression of ABO, Rh, Kell and Duffy antigens from 119 HIV-seropositive patients was compared to 317 HIV-seronegative blood donors. Nucleic acid amplification testing and PCR were used to determine the HIV status and the ID-Gel Card Technology was used to determine the blood group antigen profile.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in the expression of A, B, AB, Duffy or Kel antigens between the two groups but significantly lower numbers of HIV+ individuals were O Rh Negative (p = ,0.0001). Analysis of those with a Duffy null phenotype revealed a significantly higher incidence of blood type A RH1-Positive, Dce/R⁰r and B RH1-Positive, DcEe/R²r within the HIV-seropositive group (p = < 0.05). None of the HIV-seropositive individuals were O RH1-Negative, dce/rr.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion these initial findings have demonstrated a decreased incidence of blood type O Rh1-negative in HIV + individuals which suggests that red blood cell antigens may play an important role in susceptibility to HIV infection. The relationship between red cell antigens and HIV infection however remains complex and therefore larger studies are required to confirm these results.

Discrepancy in Blood Grouping: Subgroups of B-Challenges and Dilemma

Though not very frequent, blood group discrepancies are of common occurrence which must be promptly resolved for safe transfusion practices. Blood group discrepancy is defined as the non-corroboration between cell grouping and serum grouping. Variable erythrocyte antigenic expressions (qualitative and/or quantitative difference) owing to allelic heterogeneity, give rise to subgroups. Problems during blood grouping due to weakened expression of antigens are a rare cause for ABO discrepancies. Of note, subgroups of 'B' with decreased expression of the B antigen are of very rare occurrence in the general population. Serologically, the variants of 'B' can be classified into B₃, B_x, B_m and B_el. Serological confirmation of such subgroups requires special immuno-haematological procedures. The current study reports 3 cases of subgroups of B (2 cases of B_m and 1 case of B_w) detected at our centre. It is important to detect and resolve discrepant ABO grouping results so as to prevent ABO mis-match transfusions. Such individuals should also be pre-emptively informed of their respective blood donor and transfusion recipient status, as well.

Association between Cheiloscopic Patterns and ABO Blood Groups among South Indian Population

BACKGROUND

Human beings have few characteristics that are unique from others. Lip prints are one of such feature. They are not changed throughout the life and are not influenced by injuries, diseases, or environmental changes. According to the various antigen-antibody reactions in the bloodstream, different individuals have specific blood groups.

AIM

To study the distribution of lip print patterns among individuals with different ABO and Rh blood groups and also to know the relation between their characters and blood groups.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the present study, lip prints were collected randomly from 85 individuals, and their blood group matching was performed. This is to identify the most common lip print type and to know any association between lip print types and blood groups. Tsuchihashi's classification of lip prints was used to compare with the ABO and Rh blood grouping systems.

RESULTS

It was observed that in individuals with B+, A+, and O- blood groups, predominant pattern was Type IV and individuals having blood group O+ and AB+ common lip print pattern was Type II.

CONCLUSION

This study showed strong association between lip print patterns and ABO blood groups as some blood groups were not included in statistical analysis; further studies including larger sample are essential to substantiate the results.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Correlating lip print with blood group helps in identification of the suspects. Along with lip prints, another biological record that remains unchanged throughout the lifetime of a person is the blood group. Determining the blood group of a person from the samples obtained at the site of crime and also recovering lip prints from site can help identify a person.

Increased Vasoocclusive Crises in "O" Blood Group Sickle Cell Disease Patients: Association with Underlying Thrombospondin Levels

Objectives

To explore the incidence of vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) in Blood Group “O” sickle cell disease (SCD) patients, and correlate it with the blood group and thrombospondin (TSP) levels.

Methods

In 89 consecutive SCD patients, blood samples were obtained for von Williebrand factor (vWF:Ag) antigen, collagen binding activity (CBA), ristocetin binding activity (RCo), blood group typing, C-reactive protein (CRP), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), Serum TSP 1 and TSP 2 levels, complete blood counts (CBC), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, liver function (LFT) and renal function tests (RFT) during VOC episodes and in steady state conditions.

Results

In steady state SCD patients (n=72), “O” blood group patients (n=37) showed a significantly higher median serum TSP 1 and TSP 2 levels as compared to non-O blood group patients [n=35] [p <0.05, Mann-Whitney test]; with an inverse relation between vWF:Ag, Factor VIII:C and TSP levels. Furthermore, the serum TSP 1 and TSP 2 levels were significantly higher in patients presenting with acute VOC [n=17], as well as in those with repeated VOC’s (group 1, n=16), especially amongst blood group “O” patients [p, <0.05, Mann-Whitney test].

Conclusions

The study demonstrates an inverse relation between TSP and vWF levels, in blood group “O” SCD patients, with an upregulation of the TSP levels. Expectedly, during active VOC crisis, the TSP 1 and TSP 2 levels were significantly elevated.

Association of ABO and Rh blood groups with breast cancer

Objectives

The aim of this study was to determine the association of “ABO” and “Rhesus” blood groups with incidence of breast cancer.

Methods

In this study, we identified 70 research documents from data based search engines including “PubMed”, “ISI-Web of Knowledge”, “Embase” and “Google Scholar”. The research papers were selected by using the primary key-terms including “ABO blood type”, “Rhesus” blood type and “breast cancer”. The research documents in which “ABO” and “Rhesus” blood types and breast cancer was debated were included. After screening, we reviewed 32 papers and finally we selected 25 research papers which met the inclusion criteria and remaining documents were excluded.

Results

Blood group “A” has high incidence of breast cancer (45.88%), blood group “O” has (31.69%); “B” (16.16%) and blood group “AB” has (6.27%) incidence of breast cancer. Blood group “A” has highest and blood group “AB” has least association with breast cancer. Furthermore, “Rhesus +ve” blood group has high incidence of breast cancer (88.31%) and “Rhesus –ve” blood group has least association with breast cancer (11.68%).

Conclusion

Blood group “A” and “Rhesus +ve” have high risk of breast cancer, while blood type “AB” and “Rhesus –ve” are at low peril of breast cancer. Physicians should carefully monitor the females with blood group “A” and “Rh +ve” as these females are more prone to develop breast cancer. To reduce breast cancer incidence and its burden, preventive and screening programs for breast cancer especially in young women are highly recommended.

ABO and Rhesus (D) blood group distribution among blood donors in rural south western Uganda: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

In Uganda, geographical distribution of blood groups and Rhesus (D) factor varies across the country. The aim of this study was to examine the distribution of these groups among voluntary blood donors in rural southwestern Uganda.

RESULTS

Twenty-three thousand five hundred four (23,504) blood donors were included in the study. The donors had a mean age of 21 years (SD ± 5.7) and were mainly male (73%). The distribution of ABO blood group was; blood group O (50.3%); blood group A (24.6%); blood group B (20.7%) and blood group AB (4.5%). The proportions of Rhesus (D) positive and Rhesus (D) negative were 98 and 2% respectively. The proportion of non-adult donors (<18 years) was significantly higher among the female than the male donors (p value <0.001). A significantly higher proportion of males than females were Rhesus (D) negative (p-value <0.001). No significant relationship was found between age and blood group distribution.

CONCLUSION

The sequence of ABO distribution among the rural population in southwestern Uganda is; O > A > B > AB, with males as the predominant donors. The frequency of Rhesus (D) negative is very low in rural southwestern Ugandan and is mainly among males. The blood bank services in southwestern Uganda need to develop innovative strategies targeting female donors who are more likely to boost blood stocks in the region.

Red Cell Immunohematology Research Conducted in China

ABO subtypes and RhD variants are the most studied blood groups in China. Some of the polymorphisms in these two blood groups have direct clinical relevance. Molecular diagnosis of blood group polymorphisms is underway in China. In addition, research groups have developed methods such as screening for blood group mimetic peptides using phage display technology. New reagents, akin to antibodies directed against RhD and ABO, are being investigated using aptamer-based techniques. Progress is also being made in the development of synthetic exoglycosidases for conversion of group A and/or B antigens to group O. Development of methoxy-polyethylene-glycol modified red cells has been successful in vitro but has not reached clinical application. In this paper, we summarize red cell immunohematology research that has been conducted in China.

Risk factors of keloids in Syrians

Background

Keloid is a benign fibrous growth, which presents in scar tissue of predisposed individuals. It is a result of irregular wound healing, but the exact mechanism is unknown. However, several factors may play a role in keloid formation. To date, there are no studies of keloids in Syria, and limited studies on Caucasians, so we have investigated the risk factors of keloids in Syrians (Caucasians), and this is the main objective of this study.

Methods

Diagnosis of keloids was clinically made after an interview and physical examination. We did a histopathological study in case the physical examination was unclear.

The following information was taken for each patient; sex, Blood groups (ABO\Rh), cause of scarring, anatomical sites, age of onset, number of injured sites (single\multiple) and family history.

Results

We have studied the clinical characteristics of 259 patients with keloids,130 (50.2 %) females and 129 (49.8 %) males. There were 209 (80.7 %) patients with keloids in a single anatomical site compared to 50 (19.3 %) patients with 130 keloids in multiple anatomical sites, 253 (97.68 %) patients with keloids caused by a single cause for each patient compared to 6 (2.32 %) patients with keloids caused by two different causes for each patient.

Keloids could follow any form of skin injury, but burn was the most common (28.68 %). Also, keloids could develop at any anatomical sites, but upper limb (20 %) followed by sternum (19.17 %) was the most common. Over half of the patients developed keloids in the 11–30 age range. 19.3 % (50/259) of patients had family history, 76 % (38/50) of them had keloids located in the same anatomical sites of relative, also, 66 % (33\50) of them had keloids caused by the same cause.

The following information was found to be statistically significant; people with blood group A (p = 0.01) compared with other blood groups, spontaneous keloids in patients with blood group A (p = 0.01), acne in males (p = 0.0008) compared to females, acne in someone who has a previous acne keloid (p = 0.0002), burn in someone who has a previous burn keloid (p = 0.029), family history, especially for spontaneous (p = 0.005), presternal (p = 0.039) and shoulder (p = 0.008) keloids, people in second and third decades (p = 0.02) (p = 0.01) respectively.

Conclusion

Age of onset, sex, cause of scarring, blood groups, anatomical site, presence of family history and the number of site (multiple\single) were significant in keloid formation in Syrians.

ABO blood group and risk of cancer: A register-based cohort study of 1.6 million blood donors

INTRODUCTION

The associations between ABO blood group and cancer risk have been studied repeatedly, but results have been variable. Consistent associations have only been reported for pancreatic and gastric cancers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We estimated associations between different ABO blood groups and site-specific cancer risk in a large cohort of healthy blood donors from Sweden and Denmark.

RESULTS

A total of 1.6 million donors were followed over 27 million person-years (20 million in Sweden and 7 million in Denmark). We observed 119,584 cancer cases. Blood groups A, AB and B were associated either with increased or decreased risk of cancer at 13 anatomical sites (p≤0.05), compared to blood group O. Consistent with assessment using a false discovery rate approach, significant associations with ABO blood group were observed for cancer of the pancreas, breast, and upper gastrointestinal tract (mouth, salivary glands, pharynx, esophageal adenocarcinoma and stomach).

DISCUSSION

Our study reconfirms the association between ABO blood group and cancer risk and exact underlying mechanisms involved needs further research.

Use of lectins in immunohematology

Lectins are carbohydrate binding proteins present in seeds of many plants, especially corals and beans, in fungi and bacteria, and in animals. Apart from their hemagglutinating property, a wide range of functions have been attributed to them. Their importance in the area of immunohematology is immense. They are used to detect specific red cell antigens, to activate different types of lymphocytes, in order to resolve problems related to polyagglutination and so on. The introduction of advanced biotechnological tools generates new opportunities to exploit the properties of lectins, which were not used earlier. Stem cell research is a very important area in transplant medicine. Certain lectins detect surface markers of stem cell. Hence, they are used to understand the developmental biology of stem cells. The role of various lectins in the areas of transfusion and transplant medicine is discussed in detail in this review.

Dog erythrocyte antigen 1: mode of inheritance and initial characterization

BACKGROUND

The dog erythrocyte antigen (DEA) 1 blood group system remains poorly defined.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of the study was to determine the DEA 1 mode of inheritance and to characterize the DEA 1 antigen and alloantibodies.

ANIMALS

Canine research colony families, clinic canine patients, and DEA 1.2+ blood bank dogs were studied.

METHODS

Canine blood was typed by flow cytometry and immunochromatographic strips using anti-DEA 1 monoclonal antibodies. Gel column experiments with polyclonal and immunoblotting with monoclonal anti-DEA 1 antibodies were performed to analyze select samples. Cross-reactivity of human typing reagents against canine RBC and one monoclonal anti-DEA 1 antibody against human RBC panels was assessed.

RESULTS

Typing of 12 families comprising 144 dogs indicated an autosomal dominant inheritance with ≥ 4 alleles: DEA 1- (0) and DEA 1+ weak (1+), intermediate (2+), and strong (3+ and 4+). Samples from 6 dogs previously typed as DEA 1.2+ were typed as DEA 1+ or DEA 1- using monoclonal antibodies. Human typing reagents produced varied reactions in tube agglutination experiments against DEA 1+ and DEA 1- RBC. Polypeptide bands were not detected on immunoblots using a monoclonal anti-DEA 1 antibody, therefore the anti-DEA 1 antibody may be specific for conformational epitopes lost during processing.

CONCLUSIONS

The autosomal dominant inheritance of DEA 1 with ≥ 4 alleles indicates a complex blood group system; the antigenicity of each DEA 1+ type will need to be determined. The biochemical nature of the DEA 1 antigen(s) appears different from human blood group systems tested.

Prevalance of ABO and Rhesus Blood Groups in Blood Donors: A Study from a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital of Kumaon Region of Uttarakhand

Backround: ABO and Rhesus (Rh) blood group antigens are hereditary characters and are useful in population genetic studies, in resolving medico-legal issues and more importantly for the immunologic safety of blood during transfusion.

AIMS

This study is aimed to determine the distribution pattern of the ABO and Rh blood groups among blood donors in Kumaon region of Uttarakhand and compare it with other data from similar studies within the India and all over the world.

DESIGN

It is a retrospective study carried out at blood bank of Shushila Tewari Hospital of Government Medical College, Haldwani from January 2012 to December 2013.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was conducted on 12,701 blood donors. ABO and Rh typing was done using slide agglutination method with antisera ABO and Rh (Tulip diagnostics ltd). Doubtful cases were confirmed by tube agglutination method and reverse grouping using known pooled A and B cells. The age group and sex of donors, frequency of ABO and Rh blood groups were reported in simple percentages.

RESULTS

The predominant donors belonged to age group between 18-35years (84.28%). Male donors were more than female donors, ratio being 352:1. Replacement donors (99.71%) were much more than voluntary donors (0.91%). The most common blood group was B (32.07%) and least common being AB (10.53%). Blood group 'O' and 'A' had same frequency. The prevalence of Rhesus positive and negative distribution in the studied population was 94.49% and 5.51% respectively. Blood group frequency with respect to ABO and Rhesus positive was found to be shown by formula B> O>A >AB. The frequency for ABO and Rhesus negative was given by the formula B>A>O>AB.

CONCLUSION

Knowledge of frequencies of the different blood groups is very important for blood banks and transfusion service policies that could contribute significantly to the National Health System.