European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

ABO BLOOD GROUPS AND ABH ANTIGENS IN PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS

Christopher Igbeneghu*, Japhet Madu Olisekodiaka and Babatunde Meshach Okanlawon

ABSTRACT

While there are conflicting reports on the association between ABO blood groups and pulmonary tuberculosis and non-secretion of ABH substances has been reported to be associated with tuberculosis, there is dearth of information on the association between ABO blood groups, secretion of ABH antigens and pulmonary tuberculosis. This study determined whether there was any relationship between ABO blood groups, secretor status and pulmonary tuberculosis in Osogbo, Southwestern Nigeria. A total of 295 individuals comprising 175 tuberculosis patients (test group) and 120 apparently healthy subjects (control group) participated in this study. ABO blood group was determined by tube and tile techniques and secretor status by haemagglutination inhibition test. There was no association between ABO blood groups and pulmonary tuberculosis (χ2 = 2.25, df = 3, p = 0.52). Non-secretion of ABH substances was significantly higher in tuberculosis patients than in control subjects (χ2 = 8.93, df = 1, p = 0.003). The frequency of non-secretor in blood group O individuals was significantly lower compared to blood groups A (p < 0.0001), B (p = 0.02) and A+B+AB (p = 0.001) individuals. Non-secretion of ABH antigens is associated with pulmonary tuberculosis and of the non-secretors; group O non-secretors were less associated with tuberculosis than non-O-non-secretors due to lower frequency of non-secretors among group O individuals.

Keywords: ABO blood groups; ABH antigens; secretors; non-secretors; tuberculosis.