Association of Viral Hepatitis with ABO Blood Group in apparently Normal Iraqi Blood Donors

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are counted as a public health issue worldwide. The virus is transmitted to infect others through blood and blood products. Appointed blood groups and Rh-positive are more prone to the transmission of the infection by blood transfusion. The aim of this study is to find out the frequency of hepatitis B and C in apparently healthy blood donors and whether there is an association between ABO and Rh blood groups. ABO blood groups and their relationship with HBV and HCV infections were studied in 87,124 blood donors of both genders. Out of these donors, 353 individuals were found to be infected with HBV and HCV with a ratio of 1:250. The study was conducted between January to June 2018, which was presented to the Central Blood Bank in Baghdad and Al-Razi Medical Centre. It found that most hepatitis B and C blood donors were blood group O with a prevalence of 33.7 and 45.5%, respectively, while the results for those with blood group A showed 28.5 and 22.7% HBV and HCV infections, respectively. On the other hand, the incidence of HBV in individuals with blood group B was 29.8%, and HCV was 23.8%. AB blood group donors demonstrated the least incidence at 7.9% for both HBV and HCV. In conclusion, it has been found that there is a significant association between blood groups and Rh factor with hepatitis B and C infections.