Distribution of ABO blood groups and Rh factor in benign and malign thyroid nodules

Abstract

Aim: Many factors affect the diagnostic value of the fine-needle aspiration biopsy applied for these thyroid nodules. I aimed to investigate whether one of these factors would be ABO blood groups and Rh factor and examine the relationship of these factors with the Bethesda categorization. Additionally, I aimed to evaluate ABO blood groups and Rh factors in patients with thyroid cancer.
 Material and Method: This study was planned in a cross-sectional retrospective design. The data of the patients were obtained from the hospital data bank. In the analysis of 801 patients following the acceptance criteria, 412 patient data were obtained. Patients were divided into 4 (O, A, B, and AB groups) according to their blood groups and analyzed for nodules (solitary/ multinodular). Nodules were divided into malignant and benign, according to histopathological diagnosis, and all were analyzed. 
 Results: There was no difference in analyzing the demographic data according to the blood groups. The rates of the FNAB history were 51 (32.3%), 39 (24.2%), 14 (26.4%), and 13 (32.5%) in the same order of blood groups (p=0.393). In the analysis of the nodule type, multinodular did not differ from solitary nodules among the blood groups [O: 141 (89.2%); A:140(87%), B: 46(86.8%), and AB: 35(87.5%)]. Thyroid function status (euthyroid, hypothyroid, or hyperthyroid) was similar for all the blood groups (p=0.815). The O-group had 1 (0.6%) patient with Bethesda score-6, and the A-group had 2 (1.2%) patients with Bethesda score-6. For Bethesda score-5, per blood group had 2 patients. The histopathological distribution of malign nodules (p=0.782) is as follows: O-groups: 6 (33.3%) (Rh+:27%; Rh-:5,5%), A groups: 7(63,6%) (Rh+:54,5%; Rh-:0,9%), B groups: 2(20%)(Rh+:20%; Rh-:0%) and AB groups: 1(33%) (Rh+:33%) Rh-:0%).
 Conclusion: Malign nodule rate was highest in the A-group and lowest in the B groups, although it did not differ in the overall analysis. No relationship was found between the Bethesda categorization of nodules, their sizes, type of nodules, type of thyroid cancer, and ABO blood groups.