ABO blood group type does not influence the level of SARS-CoV-2 antibody response in convalescent plasma donors

The association of ABO blood group types with the COVID-19 disease has been confirmed by several studies, with the blood group A-type patients being more susceptible and prone to more severe clinical course of disease. Similarly, some authors explored the association of ABO-types and the levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in convalescents. The recent reports mostly support a theory that non-O blood group convalescents present with higher levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Since these findings were based on small convalescent cohorts, we quantified the anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodiy levels in four larger cohorts of total 3185 convalescent plasma donors with three commercial serological tests and one standard neutralizing antibody test. The majority of donors had undergone a mild form of disease and the median time of sampling was 66 days after the onset of COVID-19 symptoms. None of the antibody quantitation methods showed an association of the ABO blood group types with the level of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The same result is evident in the group of vaccinated individuals (n=370) as well as in the groups stratified into three post-COVID-19 periods (0-60, 60-120, and 120-180 days). In conclusion we can state that the ABO blood group type does not influence the level of SARS-CoV-2 antibody response in COVID-19 convalescent plasma donors.

Are ABO Gene Alleles Responsible for Cardiovascular Diseases and Venous Thromboembolism and Do They Play a Role in COVID?

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) including coronary heart disease and stroke are leading causes of death and disability globally. Studies of the association between ABO blood groups and CVD have consistently demonstrated an increased risk of coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, cerebral ischaemic stroke, peripheral arterial disease and venous thromboembolism (VTE) including deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary thromboembolism in patients who possess a non-O blood group type. The most likely mechanism is thought to be the increase in von Willebrand Factor (vWF) and factor VIII levels seen in patients with a non-O blood group. Other postulated mechanisms include elevations in circulating inflammatory markers such as endothelial cell and platelet adhesion molecules in subjects with a non-O blood group. More recently, it has also been recognised that individuals with a non-O blood group type carry a higher risk of SARS-C0V-2 infection and COVID-19 related complications. The increased levels in vWF and factor VIII amongst individuals with a non-O blood group who have contracted SARS-CoV-2 infection may result in an additive thrombophilic effect to that caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Another postulated mechanism is that individuals with an O-blood group are protected by anti-A and B antibodies which possibly inhibit the binding of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to lung epithelium angiotensin converting enzyme-2 receptors. There are over 35 minor blood groups on red blood cells, some of which such as Kidd, Lewis and Duffy have been associated with CVD either alone or in combination with a non-O blood group allele(s). However, their role in SARS-CoV-2 infection and mechanism of action for an association with CVD remain unknown. This review explores the relationship between ABO and minor blood groups with CVD and VTE, with a focus on potential mechanisms underlying this relationship and the potential role of ABO blood group types in COVID.

“ASSOCIATION OF ABO & RH BLOOD GROUPS WITH HEPATITIS, HIV AND SYPHILIS INFECTIONS IN HEALTHY BLOOD DONORS AT TERTIARY CARE CENTRE”.

Background: People from certain blood groups are more prone to develop infections transmitted by blood transfusion. In order to improve the management of such infections some hypothesis suggests that genetic predispositions like ABO and Rh blood groups would inuence the occurrence of such infections. Hence the present study aims to assess any possible associations of ABO & Rh blood groups with Hepatitis, HIV & syphilis infections in healthy blood donors. This was a retrospective study in heal Methods: thy blood donors of tertiary care hospital enrolled during years 2016 to 2020. Blood samples from total 34015 donors were screened for blood grouping & serology of HIV, Hepatitis & Syphilis. Result: Out of total donors only 171 donors were found positive for transfusion transmitted infections. Hepatitis B virus was found more prevalent compared to other infections. In ABO blood group type “B” and in Rh blood group type “Positive” was found more prevalent in donors. But it did not show any signicant association with transfusion transmitted infections. Conclusion: High prevalence of HBV infections in blood donors in present study point towards need of public health measures in general population. Undertaking further research to determine the special blood groups as increased risk for categorized donors is recommended.

Monochorionic Dizygotic Twins Conceived Spontaneously Showed Chimerism in Karyotype and Blood Group Type

We report a very rare case of monochorionic dizygotic twins conceived spontaneously. The fetuses were sex-discordant in ultrasonography despite being monochorionic twins. After birth, the girl and boy showed normal phenotypes but they showed blood chimerism in karyotype and blood group type.

CO-RELATION BETWEEN DEHA PRAKRITI AND BLOOD GROUP IN HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS

Introduction: Prakriti stands for nature of the body in terms of Dosha and is decided at the time of conception according to the predominance of Dosha. According to Ayurvedic Acharyas, Prakriti of an individual cannot change during his whole life, same as blood group of an individual does not change during his life. In the present study, a relationship between Deha Prakriti and Blood Group was established. Aim and Objective: The aim of the study is to find an association between Deha Prakriti and Blood group in healthy individual. Material and Methods: For this study to be carried out, a total of 150 healthy individual (50 of each dominant prakriti) were selected. Assessment of Prakriti was done using K. Patwardhan and R. Sharma, “Prakriti: a self-assessment questionnaire” and Blood group sample was taken and investigations were carried out in pathology lab, Ch. Brahm Prakash Ayurved Charak Sansthan, Khera Dabar, Najafgarh, New Delhi and A one-way repeated measures ANOVA also known as a within-subjects ANOVA was applied to test the association between Deha prakriti and Blood group in healthy individual. Results The prevalence of different blood group as found in our study is in the order of B+, O+, A+, AB+, A-, AB-, B- and O- respectively. On analyzing the blood group with respect to Prakriti types, association was noticed between blood group type B with all single Doshaj Prakriti (Vataj, Pittaj and Kaphaj). This study shows that blood groups cannot be thus used as features to classify dominant Prakriti as no statistically significant association was found between them (p > 0.05). Keywords: Blood group, Prakriti, Vata, Pitta, Kapha.

Abstract P620: Non-O Blood Group and Risk of Early-Onset Ischemic Stroke in Oral Contraceptive Users

Introduction: While oral contraceptive (OC) use is generally safe, women at higher risk for vascular disease are advised to use alternative forms of contraception. Smoking, a prothrombotic factor, is a contraindication for OC use in women over age 35. ABO blood group, specifically the non-O blood types, has also been associated with thrombosis risk. We therefore hypothesized that the effects of smoking and OC use on stroke risk would be accentuated in women with non-O blood groups. Methods: Using data from the Genetics of Early Onset Stroke Study, we used 3 polymorphisms within the ABO locus to classify blood group type in women under age 50, including 347 cases and 383 controls. Logistic regression was used to assess the stroke risk of current OC use, defined as use within 30 days, adjusted for other risk factors, and stratified by O and non-O blood group type. Results: Of the 347 women with early-onset stroke, 45% had African ancestry, 51% had European ancestry, and 4% had other ancestry. The median age was 42 years. After adjusting for race, age, hypertension, diabetes, migraines and aura, and smoking status, the odds ratio (OR) for stroke for smoking alone and OC use alone were 3.0 (95% CI 2.1-4.2) and 3.7 (95% CI 1.7-8.4), respectively in this population. Blood group (O vs non-O) did not appreciably alter the magnitude of these associations. However, the joint risk of smoking and OC use was substantially higher in women with blood group non-O (OR = 9.5, 95% CI 3.2-34.9) vs in women with blood group O (OR=4.9, 95% CI 0.4-110.2). Conclusions: Our findings are consistent with the possibility that non-O type blood group confers an increased risk of early onset stroke among OC users who smoke. Further studies are needed to confirm or refute this possibility and to determine whether non-O blood type should be considered in assessing the risk of OC use.