Blood count changes in malaria patients according to blood groups (ABO/Rh) and sickle cell trait

Abstract

IntroductionIntroduction: Malaria continues to be the leading cause of hospitalization and death in Angola, a country in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2023, in the first quarter, 2,744,682 cases were registered, and of these 2,673 patients dieddue to malaria disease. Previous studies have shown that the ABO blood group can affect the progression ofmalaria to severe conditions after P. falciparum infection, while the sickle cell gene offers relative protection.ObjectiveWe investigated changes in the blood count according to blood groups (ABO/Rh) and sickle celltrait in patients with malaria in Luanda, capital of Angola.Methodology This was a longitudinal, prospectiveand observational study with 198 patients hospitalized for malaria.Results Of the 198 patients studied,13(6.6%) were ABRh(+), 4(2.0%) were ARh(-), 49(24.7%) were ARh(+), 42(21, 2%) were BRh (+), 5(2.5%)were ORh(-) and 85(42.9%) were ORh(+). For sickle cell trait, 145(73.2%) were AA, 37(18.7%) were AS and16(8.1%) were SS. No statistical relationship was observed between age group, sex, parasitemia, clinicalpicture, hematocrit, MCV, HCM, MCHC, leukocytes, NEUT, LINF and PTL values with blood groups(p<0.05), but there was a relationship between values of hemoglobin and ABO/Rh blood groups (p>0.05).There was no relationship between age, parasitemia, clinical condition, MCV, HCM and MCHC values,leukocytes, NEUT and LINF with sickle cell trait (p<0.05), but there was a relationship between sex,hemoglobin and PTL and sickle cell values. sickle cell trait (p>0.05).ConclusionIt is imperative todifferentiate patients with malaria based on blood groups and sickle cell trait, taking into account mainly theblood count parameters that demonstrate that there are patients who, depending on blood group or sickle celltrait, may react weakly to malaria infection regardless of the degree of parasitemia and medical prognosis.