Rh Blood Group Research Articles

Association of β-Thalassemia and its Types with ABO and Rh Blood Groups in Lahore, Pakistan

The current study aims to determine the relationship of ß-thalassemia and its types (major, minor, intermedia) with ABO and Rh blood groups in Lahore, Pakistan. It is an observational study in which ABO and Rh blood grouping of 711 β-thalassemia patients was performed (with their consent). Blood grouping was performed through forward and reverse grouping using tube method. The observed ABO blood group pattern in both genders was O>B>A>AB. It was found that the overall frequency of O and A blood groups was higher in female patients, while the frequency of B and AB blood groups was higher in male patients, although the difference was non-significant. However, a significant difference was observed in the relationship between gender and Rh factor. Most patients of β-thalassemia suffered from the type β-thalassemia major (48%), followed by patients suffering from β-thalassemia minor (44%) and β-thalassemia intermedia (8%). Overall, patients with AB blood group mostly suffered from β-thalassemia major, while patients with β-thalassemia minor and β-thalassemia intermedia had the highest frequency of blood group B. It was concluded that ß-thalassemia patients have a higher frequency of O+ blood group and the lowest frequency of AB- blood group. Moreover, a significant difference was seen between male and female patients with respect to Rh blood group. However, no significant difference (p > 0.05) was found in the distribution of ABO and Rh blood groups corresponding to β-thalassemia types.

Link between human ABO blood groups with diseases influencing blood donors and recipients frequency at RBTC, Delhi, India.

Blood groups had associations with many diseases that affect blood transfusion services by increasing or decreasing the blood demand of particular blood group. The present study was designed to compare the frequency of ABO and Rh blood groups among blood donors and blood component recipients. The ABO and Rh(D) blood groups of donors and recipients were determined using Gel card method. The frequency of blood donors and blood component recipients from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2023, at regional blood transfusion centre of Delhi, were compared using χ² test. The ABO blood group frequencies of blood donors (n=23025) were: A(23.1%), B(37.53%), AB(10.09%), and O(29.29%). The blood issue (n=20255) was significantly (p=0.0000) higher in A(24.96%), B(39.92%), and lower in AB(9.76%) and O(25.37%). The RDP issue (n=7239) was significantly (p=0.0000) higher in A(24.71%), B(39.34%), and AB(11.53%) and lower in O(24.41%). The FFP issue (n=4164) was significantly (p=0.00024) higher in AB (12.3%) and lower in A (22.05%), B(37.32%), and O(28.14%). The difference between the blood donor frequencies of Rh(D)+Ve(95.19%) and Rh(D)-Ve(4.81%) and the blood issued by Rh(D)+Ve(95.06%) and Rh(D)-Ve(4.94%) was statistically not significant(P=0.52).Blood issues were higher in blood group A and B than in O, platelet issues were higher in A, B and AB than in O, and FFP issues were higher in the AB. Non-O blood groups may have a higher frequency of blood transfusions, while O blood groups may have a protective influence against diseases due to their innate immune response.

Prevalence of TTI among Indian blood donors.

Transfusion Transmissible Infections (TTIs) such as human immune-deficiency virus (HIV-I/II), hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), Malaria parasite (MP) and syphilis can spread through contaminated blood or blood products. The present study was designed to analyze the prevalence of TTIs and their association with blood group, among the blood donors of Delhi. Blood group was determined by hem-agglutination using Gel card. HIV, HBV, and HCV test was performed by ELISA, syphilis by RPR and MP rapid card method. A total Transfusion Transmissible Infections (TTIs) such as human immune-deficiency virus (HIV-I/II), hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), Malaria parasite (MP) and syphilis can spread through contaminated blood or blood products. The present study was designed to analyze the prevalence of TTIs and their association with blood group, among the blood donors of Delhi. Blood group was determined by hem-agglutination using Gel card. HIV, HBV, and HCV test was performed by ELISA, syphilis by RPR and MP rapid card method. A total of 345(2.038%) blood donors were positive for TTIs. Prevalence of HBV, HCV, HIV-I/II, syphilis and MP were 188(1.111%), 73(0.431%), 34(0.201%), 49(0.29%) and 1(0.006%) respectively. Our result shows a trend of decrease in prevalence of TTIs; 2.267%, 2.111% and 1.614% between the year 2020, 2021 and 2022 respectively. Significant association of syphilis infection (P=0.036) and HCV infection (P=0.012) with ABO blood group antigen was observed. Blood group O donors were 1.81 times more infected with syphilis compared to donor having A and B antigen. Donors having blood group antigen B were 1.80 times more infected with HCV compared to donor not having B antigen. HBV and HIV prevalence found to be not associated with ABO and Rh blood group antigens. A low prevalence of TTIs positivity was observed among blood donors. Public awareness, proper counseling, medical examination and testing can help to minimize TTIs. Our study results shows ABO blood group has an association with HCV and VDRL infection.

Characterisation of irregular antibodies in patients with autoimmune hemolytic anaemia at Bach Mai Hospital

Autoantibodies in patients with autoimmune hemolytic anaemia (AIHA) which “bind” to antigens on the surface of red blood cells, cause hemolysis. In addition, autoantibodies may also circulate in the serum, and their presence may mask or interfere with the irregular antibodies. Therefore, the authors encounter many difficulties in determining the appearance of irregular antibodies in AIHA patients. Objectives: To determine the prevalence and characterisation of irregular antibodies in patients with AIHA. Subjects: 150 patients were diagnosed and treated for AIHA at Bach Mai Hospital from June 2019 to June 2021. Method: Cross-sectional description. Results and conclusions: The rate of occurrence of irregular antibodies in AIHA patients is 9.3%, which is very high in AIHA patients with autoantibodies (28.6%). Irregular antibodies mainly combine with autoantibodies (85.7%), and most irregular antibodies are against antigens of the Rh (60.0%) and MNS (35.0%) blood groups.

Study of the Relationship betweenABO Blood Group Typesand Breast Cancer and Cervix Cancerin Khuzestan Province, Iran.

Background:Breast cancer and cervix cancer are the prevalent and deadly types of solid tumors around the world. According to the importance of cancer, it is necessary to understand predisposing factors that affect cancer risk. In this regard, previous studies suggest that blood types particularly ABO and Rh-Hr Blood-Group System could play roles in the risk and different features of cancers. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the potential of ABO and Rh blood groups as risk factors for breast cancer and cervix cancer. Materials and Methods:A retrospective study included 109 and 14 patients diagnosed with breast cancer and cervix cancer, respectively with known ABO and Rh blood types, between 2018 and 2020 in Khuzestan province, Iran. For compression of ABO blood groups distribution between the cancer patients group and the healthy population, we used data from a large-scale study that report the distribution of ABO blood groups in 29,922 blood donors in Khuzestan province. Results:Based on obtained results the most frequent blood group is O followed by B, A, and AB in breast cancer and followed by A, B, and AB in cervix cancer. Results showed no significant association between ABO and Rh and the risk of breast and cervix cancer. Moreover, there is no relationship between blood types and clinic pathological features of breast cancer. Conclusion: Based on our data, ABO and in this regard, previous studies suggest that blood types particularly ABO and Rh-Hr Blood-Group System could play roles in the risk and different features of cancers. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the potential of ABO and Rh blood groups as risk factors for breast cancer and cervix cancer do have not any association with the risk of breast and cervix cancer and their characteristics.

Relation of Primary Fingerprint Patterns With Gender and Blood Group: A Dermatoglyphic Study From a Tertiary Care Institute in Eastern India.

Background Identification of an individual plays a vital part in any medicolegalinvestigation. The fingerprint is one of the oldestand most reliable biometric methods and is taken as legitimate proof of identification of an individual. Positive relationships between the fingerprint pattern and blood group and the fingerprint pattern and gender were demonstrated in some of the previous studies but weren't consistent across them. Objectives (a) To studythe distribution of fingerprint patterns among the study participants by gender and ABO and Rh blood groups and (b) to find an association between the fingerprint pattern andgender and blood group. Methods A cross-sectional observational study was carried out in the year 2021 on 800 healthcare students and workers of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar, Eastern Indiahaving different ABO and Rh blood groups. Healthy individuals i.e., those who were not suffering from any illness which can affect the fingerprints, aged 18 years or above were included and individuals having hand or finger deformities or missing fingers, having an allergy to the ink pad, and having blood group diseases were excluded. Rolled imprints of all the 10 digits of the participants were taken on a white A4 size Performa and were classified into loops, whorl, arches, and composite. The distribution of the fingerprint patterns was then compared by gender, ABO and Rh blood group. Chi-square/Fischer exact tests were applied to comparetwo groups andfind the association. P-value<0.05 was taken as statistically significant. Results The majority (66.0%) of the participants in the study were males with a male: female ratio of 1.9:1. Most common blood group was blood group B (37.7%) followed byO (29.8%), A (23.0%), and AB (9.5%). Rh-positive cases constituted around 96% of all the studied cases with the rest being Rh-ve. The general distribution of the fingerprint pattern showed a high frequency of loops registering 55.9%; followed by whorls (34.9%), arches (6.0%), and composite (3.1%). The distribution of fingerprint patterns among the male and femalegender was found to be similar with no significant difference (p=0.11). However, the distribution of the finger patterns across the ABO blood groups showed a statistically significant difference (p=0.0003) whereas it was non-significant across the Rh blood groups (p=0.08). Conclusion This study concludes that the distribution of the primary fingerprint patterns relates to the "ABO" blood group but not to gender and Rh blood group. An individual's fingerprints may be used to predict his/her blood group and vice versa.

Phenotype, allele and genotype frequency distribution of ABO and Rh(D) blood group among blood donors attending regional blood transfusion centre in Delhi, India.

The ABO and Rh blood group phenotypes, alleles, and genotype frequencies have many biological and medical implications. The frequency differs broadly according to races, geographical borders and ethnicity, even within the same region. This study was designed to determine the frequency of ABO and Rh blood groups among blood donors attending the regional blood transfusion centre in Delhi. The gel card method was used to determine the ABO and Rh(D) blood groups of donors who donated blood between January 1, 2020, and June 30, 2022. The assumption of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was used to determine allele and genotype frequencies of blood donors. A total of 16,925 blood units were donated during the study period. Donors phenotype frequencies of ABO were as follows: 'A' (23.88%), 'B' (37.38%), 'AB' (9.97%) and 'O '(29.27%). Rh(D)+Ve (D) were (94.9%) and Rh(D)-Ve (d) were (5.01%), which follow an order of B > O > A > AB and Rh-D > d for Rh. Donors ABO and Rh (D) allele frequencies were IA-0.183, IB-0.277, IO-0.541 and ID-0.776, Id-0.224 respectively. Allele frequencies follow an order of IO > IB > IA and Rh- ID > Id. Donors ABO genotype frequencies were AA-0.0333, AO-0.198, BB-0.0768, BO-0.30, AB-0.101, OO-0.293 and Rh(D) genotype frequencies were DD-0.602, Dd-0.347, dd-0.0501. Genotype frequencies follow an order of BO > OO > AO > AB > BB > AA and DD > Dd > dd. Among our donors, which were mostly from northern India, the ABO and Rh(D) blood groups have the highest proportion of ABO-B and Rh(D)+Ve and the lowest proportion of ABO-AB and Rh(D)-Ve, with a stable order of B > O > A > AB and D > d for phenotype, IO > IB > IA and ID > Id for allele and BO > OO > AO > AB > BB > AA and DD > Dd > dd for genotype.

Phenotypic and Allelic Frequency of ABO and Rh (D) Blood Group among Whole Blood Donors in a Teaching Hospital of Chhattisgarh

Background: ABO and Rh (D) blood groups are the most important in blood transfusion and are determined genetically. Although these blood groups are common to all humans, there is variation in their allelic frequency based on region and population. This study was performed to determine the allelic frequency of ABO &amp; Rh (D) in the donor population in the Blood Center of Chhattisgarh located in Central India.&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: It is a cross-sectional study performed in the Department of Transfusion Medicine &amp; Blood Bank of a teaching hospital from July 2021-February 2022.&#x0D; Methodology: Only the accepted whole blood donors were included. ABO &amp; Rh (D) blood grouping was performed by conventional tube technique and their allelic frequency was determined. We studied 4078 whole blood donors out of which 4055 were males and 23 were females.&#x0D; Results: Phenotypic frequency of ABO blood group system was O&gt;B&gt;A&gt;AB. Rh (D) positive was more prevalent than Rh (D) negative. Allele frequency of ABO system was 0.1545 for IA, 0.2351 for IB, and 0.6105 for IO. In Rh system, allele frequency of ID was 0.8441 and Id was 0.1559.&#x0D; Conclusion: Phenotypic &amp; allelic frequency of ABO &amp; Rh (D) shows heterogeneous distribution in different parts of the world. Our study showed blood group O &amp; allele IO as the most common. This data is of utmost importance in the planning of transfusion services, especially during a healthcare crisis in low-resource area like ours.

Red Blood Cell Alloimmunization and Autoimmunization in Blood Transfusion-Dependent Sickle Cell Disease and β-Thalassemia Patients in Al-Ahsa Region, Saudi Arabia.

The risk of developing transfusion-related complications, especially alloimmunization, is an ongoing concern for transfusion-dependent patients. It is important to determine the rate of alloimmunization and autoimmunization in Al-Ahsa Region, Saudi Arabia, where sickle cell disease (SCD) and thalassemia incidence rates are the highest in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted to review the transfusion history of patients with SCD and thalassemia at the King Fahad Hospital (KFH) in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. 364 transfusion-dependent patients were included in this study. Alloimmunization rates in patients with SCD and thalassemia were 16.7% and 11.97%, respectively, while autoimmunization rates in patients with SCD and thalassemia were 5.3% and 0.7%, respectively. The most frequent alloantibodies among the study participants were against Kell, Rh blood group systems. Blood transfusion-related alloimmunization and autoimmunization compromise the proper management of chronically transfused patients. Ideally, extended matched phenotyping should be implemented to prevent alloimmunization and reduce the risk of developing blood transfusion-related alloantibodies.

The correlation between Blood group type and Diabetes Mellitus Type II

Background and objective: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is typically a multifactorial disorder involving genetic and environmental factors to variable extents. The aim of this research was to find out if there is a relationship between the “ABO” and “Rhesus” blood groups and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: A case-control study was carried out at Azadi Teaching Hospital in Duhok city for six months, from 1st July 2019 to 1st January 2020. The study included 800 individuals including 400 randomly selected diabetic patients and 400 non-diabetic adults of both genders. Standard slide agglutination method at room temperature was performed to determine the ABO and Rh blood groups. Results: Out of 400 patients, 185(46.25%) were male and 215(53.75%) were female. It was found that out of 400 randomly selected patients, majority had O blood group 193(48.25%), 109(27.25%) had A, 65(16.25%) had B, 33(8.25%) had AB group. A higher frequency of O blood group was encountered among the diabetics comparing to the control (48.25% vs. 37.75%). On applying the Chi-square test, the blood groups O and type 2 diabetes mellitus were found to have a statistically significant relationship (Chi-square value - 8.14, P &lt;0.005) and no statistically significant association between the Rh group and type 2 DM was observed (P &gt;0.05). Conclusion: According to this study, people with the O blood group are at a greater risk of having type 2 diabetes mellitus, but there was no discrepancy in type 2 diabetes mellitus risk between Rhesus positive and negative classes. The level of blood groups A among diabetic patients is also concluded to be substantially lower.

An Observational Study to Analyse the Association of the ABO and Rh Blood Group Systems With Bronchial Asthma

An Observational Study to Analyse the Association of the ABO and Rh Blood Group Systems With Bronchial Asthma

Evaluation of the relationship between ABO and Rh blood groups system with diabetes mellitus type 2 among Patients in Al-Muthanna Governorate

Evaluation of the relationship between ABO and Rh blood groups system with diabetes mellitus type 2 among Patients in Al-Muthanna Governorate

Overview of the serologic and molecular basis of D variants with a focus on D variants in the Indian population.

Complexities of D within the Rh blood group system have long been recognized, initially using basic serologic testing and, more recently, using advanced and sensitive typing reagents. Discrepancies may arise when an individual carries a D antigen showing altered D antigen expression. These D variants are clinically important, since they may lead to production of anti-D in the carrier and induce alloimmunization in D- recipients, making their correct identification imperative. For clinical purposes, D variants can be classified into three groups: weak D, partial D, and DEL. The problem surrounding proper characterization of D variants exists because routine serologic tests are sometimes inadequate to detect D variants or resolve discrepant or ambiguous D typing results. Today, molecular analysis has revealed more than 300 RH alleles and is a better method for investigating D variants. Global distribution of variants differs, as observed in European, African, and East Asian populations. Discovery of the novel RHD*01W.150 (weak D type 150) with a nucleotide change of c.327_487-4164dup is proof. This variant, the result of an insertion of a duplicated exon 3 between exons 2 and 4 in the same orientation, was detected in more than 50 percent of Indian D variant samples in a 2018 study. The outcome of studies worldwide has led to the recommendation to manage D variant individuals as D+ or D- according to RHD genotype. The policies and workup with respect to D variant testing in donors, recipients, and prenatal women differ among blood banks, depending on type of variants predominantly encountered. Thus, a general genotyping protocol cannot be followed globally, and an Indian-specific RHD genotyping assay (multiplex polymerase chain reaction) designed to detect D variants frequently found in the Indian population was developed to save time and resources. This assay is also helpful for detecting several partial and null alleles. Identification of D variants by serology and characterization by molecular testing need to go hand-in-hand for better and safer transfusion practices.

The Relationship of ABO and Rh Blood Group Antigens with Mortality in Clinical and Intensive Care Patients with a Diagnosis of COVID-19: A Pandemic Hospital Experience

Giriş ve Amaç: Coronovirus 2019 (COVID-19) tüm dünyada pek çok kişiyi etkileyen ve mortalitesi yüksek olan pandemiye neden olmuştur. ABO kan grupları vasküler, koroner kalp hastalıkları gibi birçok kronik hastalık yanında viral enfeksiyonlarla da ilişkilendirilmektedir.Bu çalışmada kan gruplarının COVID-19’a yatkınlık ve mortalite ile ilşkisini araştırmayı amaçladık.&#x0D; Gereç ve Yöntemler: 17 Mart 2020 ve 30 Kasım 2020 tarihleri arasında PCR pozitif COVID-19 tanısı ile hastanemizde yatırılarak tedavi edilen erişkin hastaların dosyaları retrospektif olarak incelendi. Demografik veriler, ABO ve Rh kan gruplarının dağılım oranları kaydedildi. Kan gruplarının mortaliteye etkisi incelendi. Hastalar serumlarında anti-A bulunması (B ve O kan grubu) ve bulunmamasına (A ve AB kan grubu) göre gruplandırılarak yaş, cinsiyet, yoğun bakıma (YB) yatış ve mortalite açısından karşılaştırıldı.&#x0D; Bulgular: Çalışmaya 3137 hasta dahil edildi. Hastaların 2231’i kliniğe, 906’sı YB’ye yatırılmıştı. Hastalar 55.17±17.90 yaşında olup, %51.2’si erkek idi. Hastaların A, B, AB ve O kan grubuna sahip olma oranları sırasıyla %47.5, %14.5, %8.3 ve %29.6 idi. Hastaların 530’nun tedavisi eksitus ile sonuçlanmıştı. Yaş, klinik ve YB hastalarında mortaliteyi etkilemişti (ikisi için p=0.000). Tüm hastalarda erkek cinsiyette mortalite (%61.9) anlamlı olarak yüksekti (p=0.000). Rh’ın ve serumda anti-A izohemaglütinin bulunmasının mortalite ile ilişkisi yoktu (p=0.42, p=0.565). Multivariate lojistik regresyon analizi sonucu kan grubu mortalite ile ilişkili tespit edilmedi. Yaş, erkek cinsiyet ve mekanik ventilasyon gereksinimi mortalite için bağımsız risk faktörü olarak saptandı (sırasıyla OR.1.073p=

Association between Rhesus Blood Groups and Malaria Infection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

In the literature, there was inconsistency in the risk of malaria between individuals with Rhesus blood group positive (Rh+) and negative (Rh-). The systematic review aimed to investigate the risk of malaria among participants with different Rh blood types. All observational studies that reported the occurrence of Plasmodium infection and investigation of the Rh blood group were searched in five databases (Scopus, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PubMed, and Ovid). Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology was used to assess the reporting quality in the included studies. A random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled log OR and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Database searches yielded a total of 879 articles, of which 36 were eligible for inclusion in the systematic review. The majority of the included studies (44.4%) revealed that Rh+ individuals had a lower proportion of malaria than Rh- individuals; however, the remaining studies revealed a higher or no difference in the proportion of malaria between Rh+ and Rh- individuals. Overall, with moderate heterogeneity, the pooled results showed no difference in malaria risk between patients with Rh+ and Rh- (p = 0.85, pooled log OR: 0.02, 95% CI: -0.20-0.25, I2: 65.1%, 32 studies). The current study found no link between the Rh blood group and malaria, even though there was a moderate amount of heterogeneity. Further studies using prospective designs and a definitive method for Plasmodium identification are needed to investigate the risk of Plasmodium infection in Rh+ individuals and increase the reliability and quality of these studies.

Relationship between AB0 and Rh Blood Groups in COVID-19 Patients and In-Hospital Mortality

Aim: It is known that blood groups and susceptibility to thrombosis are related to each other. COVID-19 is a disease with a high mortality rate with thrombotic events. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between blood types and the severity of COVID-19 disease and in-hospital mortality.&#x0D; Methods: This study was carried out retrospectively using the data of PCR positive patients hospitalized for COVID-19 whose blood group was studied between 01.03.2020 and 01.06.2021. The patients were divided into four groups. Group 1 (control group) consisted of 37996 people whose blood group was studied within one year and 1437 outpatient PCR positive cases in Group 2, 1024 PCR positive hospitalized patients in Group 3, and 413 PCR positive patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit in Group 4 were presented. The groups were compared in terms of age, gender, AB0, and Rh blood groups. In addition, the data of the living and deceased patients in Group 4 were compared.&#x0D; Results: The rate of PCR positive test was higher in the A and AB blood groups (p:0.037, p

Change of complete blood count parameters according to blood type and smoking

In this study, it was aimed to investigate the change in the parameters of complete blood count depending on blood type and smoking status. The individuals were grouped according to their blood group type and status of cigarette use, and the statistical differences in their levels of Neutrophil/Lymphocyte ratio (NLR), Platelet/Lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and Mean Platelet Volume/Lymphocyte ratio (MPVLR) were evaluated.3119 individuals participated in the study. 26.67% of them were smokers. According to the ABO blood group system, 44.47% of the participants had type A, 32.48% had type O, 16.09% had type B, and 6.96% had type AB. 88.81% of the participants were Rh(+) and 11.19% of them were Rh(-). The NLR, PLR, and MPVLR of the smokers were higher than those of the non-smokers. The participants’ NLR, PLR, and MPVLR levels showed statistically significant differences depending on ABO and Rh blood groups. This difference was seen to arise from ARh (+) individuals. The NLR, PLR, and MPVLR levels were the highest in ARh (+) individuals and the lowest in the ABRh (-) individuals. The NLR, PLR, and MPVLR values were the highest in the ARh (+) smokers and the lowest in ABRh (-) non-smokers. It was found that there were significant differences in the participants’ blood count parameters depending on blood type and smoking status. This may imply that ARh (+) individuals who smoke have higher parameters than those who have other blood groups and do not smoke, which may be beneficial in predicting the risk of chronic inflammation-related diseases.

Exploring the relationship between ABO and Rh blood groups and susceptibility to COVID-19 infection

The rapid global spread of the novel coronavirus SARS CoV-2 has strained the existing healthcare and tested our resources. Many studies have found that the ABO blood group plays an important role in various human diseases, such as cardiovascular, oncological, and some infectious and non-infectious diseases. The present study was conducted to study the association of ABO and Rh blood groups with COVID-19 susceptibility and severity. This study was conducted on 209 COVID-19-confirmed patients admitted for their management. Cases were categorized as mild, moderate and severe as per the protocol. The ABO/Rh blood groups of these patients were determined by the gel card method. A total of 209 COVID positive patients were included in this present study. Most of the patients susceptible to COVID belonged to B positive blood group (33.01%) followed by O positive (32.06%). The severity of COVID-19 infection was most common in patients with O positive blood group (37.4%). COVID-19 infection was more common in males and more prevalent in B and O-positive blood groups.

Cases of RhD variants RhD*DAU2/DAU6 and RhD*weak D type 4.1 in pregnant women in Saudi Arabia.

The D antigen is one of the most immunogenic and clinically significant antigens of the Rh blood group system due to its various genotypes that encode for more than 450 different variants. Accurate RhD typing and D variant identification is crucial specially in prenatal screening during pregnancy. Women with RhD -ve phenotype are eligible to Rh immune globulin (RhIG) prophylaxis for the prevention of anti-D alloimmunization and hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN). However, there are some women who possess RhD variant alleles, who are mistakenly grouped as RhD positive and considered not eligible for RhIG prophylaxis, putting them at risk of anti-D alloimmunization and consequently leading to HDFN during subsequent pregnancies. Here, we describe two cases of RhD variants DAU2/DAU6 and Weak D type 4.1 in obstetric patients who were grouped as RhD +ve with negative antibody screening during routine serologic testing. Weak/Partial D molecular analysis using genomic DNA Red Cell Genotyping (RCG) revealed that both patients had RhD variants, one of which DAU2/DAU6 allele associated with anti-D alloimmunization. According to routine testing neither patients received RhIG or transfusion. In this case report we document to our knowledge the first reported cases of RhD variants among pregnant women in Saudi Arabia.

The correlation between ABO blood types and acne vulgaris severity.

Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory disease with multifactorial etiology. Studies on the pathogenesis of acne are still important. Recently, various studies have been conducted on the significance of genetics in the pathogenesis of acne. Blood group is transferred genetically and could affect the development, progress, and severity of certain diseases. In the current study, the correlation between the severity of acne vulgaris and ABO blood groups was investigated. A total of 380 patients (263 mild and 117 severe acne vulgaris patients) and 1000 healthy individuals were included in the study. Severity of acne vulgaris patients and healthy controls was determined based on the blood group and Rh factor data obtained retrospectively from the patient files in the hospital automation system. In the study, the rate of females was significantly higher in the acne vulgaris group (X2 :154.908; p:0.000). The mean age of the patient was significantly lower when compared to the controls (t:37.127; p:0.0001). The mean age of the patients with severe acne was significantly lower when compared to those with mild acne. When compared to the control group, the incidence of severe acne was higher in those A blood type when compared to the patients with mild acne, while the incidence of mild acne was higher in other blood groups when compared to the control (X2 :17.756; p:0.007). No significant difference was determined between the Rh blood groups of the patients with mild, severe acne and the control group (X2 :0.812; p:0.666). The results revealed a significant correlation between acne severity and ABO blood groups. Future studies that would be conducted with larger samples in different centers could confirm the current study findings.