Clinical Impact of the ABO Blood Type in Patients with Rheumatic Diseases: Is there a Link to the ABO and Rhesus?

Abstract

Objectives: Several studies have shown associations of ABO and Rh blood groups with various diseases; however, the relationship of ABO and Rh blood groups with rheumatic diseases are scarce. The aim of the present study was to examine whether there is an association between ABO and Rh blood groups and the types of rheumatic diseases. Method: In this multi-centre cross-sectional study, sociodemographic data, type of rheumatic disease, and type ABO and Rh blood groups were examined for patients with different rheumatic diseases. Results: A total of 304 patients; 207 (68.1%) were diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, and 40 (13.2%) had systemic lupus erythematosus. The patients were assessed for blood types; 37.8% patients had A type, 27.6% had B type, 19.1% had O type, and 15.4% had AB type. The Rh (+) blood group was more prevalent (89.1%) than Rh (–). Blood group A was more prevalent in patients with rheumatic disease, followed by B, O, and AB respectively, although there was no significant difference in the distribution of ABO groups among rheumatic diseases. Female gender, smoking, and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide are significantly different between the blood groups within rheumatic diseases. Conclusion: The A and Rh (+) blood groups were more commonly observed in patients with rheumatic diseases. There was lack of association between types of rheumatic diseases and ABO blood groups. The study provides knowledge for the interaction between ABO blood groups and several risk factors related to rheumatic diseases and may serve a guide for future clinical studies.

Relationships of ABO and Rhesus blood groups with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…35 In addition, a study by Salem et al performed in Egypt showed that blood type A is more common in patients with rheumatic disease. 4 We also found no significant association between Rh blood group and T2DM (OR ¼ 0.91, 95% CI: 0.78-1.06), as previously shown in studies conducted in India, 22 Algeria, 36 and Ethiopia. 14 However, a study by Stern et al showed a statistically significant association between T2DM and Rh blood type.…”

“…In addition, the study by Salem et al showed that Rh-positivity is more common in patients with rheumatic disease. 4 In contrast, a study conducted in Pakistan 27 showed that Rh-negativity is significantly associated with T2DM. A possible explanation for this is that the Rh blood system may be linked to glucose metabolism, and thereby affect the clinical manifestation of diabetes.…”

“…1 Although the physiological significance of ABO antigens and the corresponding natural anti-A and anti-B isoagglutinins remains poorly understood, they are known to be important during blood transfusion and cell, tissue, and organ transplantation. 2 The presence or absence of antigens corresponding to specific blood types leads to differences in the blood that have indirect effects on susceptibility to certain infectious 3,4 and non-infectious diseases. 5 Previous studies have shown close associations between ABO blood groups and a variety of diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, cognitive disorders, and metabolic disorders, such as hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus.…”

Disentangling the common genetic architecture and causality of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus with COVID-19 outcomes: genome-wide cross trait analysis and bi-directional Mendelian randomization study

“…15 We also found a novel shared gene, ADAM15, whose expression serves as an adhesion receptor for platelets, plays a role in platelet activation and thrombus formation. 29 Hematological alterations are also common in patients with SLE, 30,31 these evidence suggests the important function of erythrocyte surface antigens and coagulation in COVID-19 and SLE co-morbidities.…”

ABO Blood Group and the Risk and Prognosis of Lymphoma

“…The correlation between ABO blood group and the occurrence and prognosis of chronic inflammatory diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease and autoimmune diseases have been reported. [60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72] Chronic inflammation is related to tumor growth, invasion, and migration. [34][35][36] Therefore, we speculate that these inflammatory mediators directly correlate ABO blood groups with tumor development and spread.…”