Summary
The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) is considered a global catastrophe that has overwhelmed health care ...systems. Since initiation of the pandemic, identification of characteristics that might influence risk of infection and poor disease outcomes have been of paramount interest. Blood group phenotypes are genetically inherited characteristics whose association with certain infectious diseases have long been debated. The aim of this review is to identify whether a certain type of blood group may influence an individual’s susceptibility to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and developing severe outcomes. Our review shows that blood group O protects individuals against SARS‐CoV‐2, whereas blood group A predisposes them to being infected. Although the association between blood groups and outcomes of COVID‐19 is not consistent, it is speculated that non‐O blood group carriers with COVID‐19 are at higher risk of developing severe outcomes in comparison to O blood group. The interaction between blood groups and SARS‐CoV‐2 infection is hypothesized to be as result of natural antibodies against blood group antigens that may act as a part of innate immune response to neutralize viral particles. Alternatively, blood group antigens could serve as additional receptors for the virus and individuals who are capable of expressing these antigens on epithelial cells, which are known as secretors, would then have a high propensity to be affected by SARS‐CoV‐2.
Adherence by Helicobacter pylori increases the risk of gastric disease. Here, we report that more than 95% of strains that bind fucosylated blood group antigen bind A, B, and O antigens ...(generalists), whereas 60% of adherent South American Amerindian strains bind blood group O antigens best (specialists). This specialization coincides with the unique predominance of blood group O in these Amerindians. Strains differed about 1500-fold in binding affinities, and diversifying selection was evident in babA sequences. We propose that cycles of selection for increased and decreased bacterial adherence contribute to babA diversity and that these cycles have led to gradual replacement of generalist binding by specialist binding in blood group O-dominant human populations.
The rapid global spread of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has strained healthcare and testing resources, making the identification and prioritization of individuals most at-risk a critical ...challenge. Recent evidence suggests blood type may affect risk of severe COVID-19. Here, we use observational healthcare data on 14,112 individuals tested for SARS-CoV-2 with known blood type in the New York Presbyterian (NYP) hospital system to assess the association between ABO and Rh blood types and infection, intubation, and death. We find slightly increased infection prevalence among non-O types. Risk of intubation was decreased among A and increased among AB and B types, compared with type O, while risk of death was increased for type AB and decreased for types A and B. We estimate Rh-negative blood type to have a protective effect for all three outcomes. Our results add to the growing body of evidence suggesting blood type may play a role in COVID-19.
The ABO and rhesus (Rh) blood groups may influence risk for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.
To determine whether ABO and Rh blood groups are associated with ...risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) illness.
Population-based cohort study.
Ontario, Canada.
All adults and children who had ABO blood group assessed between January 2007 and December 2019 and who subsequently had SARS-CoV-2 testing between 15 January and 30 June 2020.
The main study outcome was SARS-CoV-2 infection, determined by viral RNA polymerase chain reaction testing. A second outcome was severe COVID-19 illness or death. Adjusted relative risks (aRRs) and absolute risk differences (ARDs) were adjusted for demographic characteristics and comorbidities.
A total of 225 556 persons were included, with a mean age of 54 years. The aRR of SARS-CoV-2 infection for O blood group versus A, AB, and B blood groups together was 0.88 (95% CI, 0.84 to 0.92; ARD, -3.9 per 1000 CI, -5.4 to -2.5). Rhesus-negative (Rh-) blood type was protective against SARS-CoV-2 infection (aRR, 0.79 CI, 0.73 to 0.85; ARD, -6.8 per 1000 CI, -8.9 to -4.7), especially for those who were O-negative (O-) (aRR, 0.74 CI, 0.66 to 0.83; ARD, -8.2 per 1000 CI, -10.8 to -5.3). There was also a lower risk for severe COVID-19 illness or death associated with type O blood group versus all others (aRR, 0.87 CI, 0.78 to 0.97; ARD, -0.8 per 1000 CI, -1.4 to -0.2) and with Rh- versus Rh-positive (aRR, 0.82 CI, 0.68 to 0.96; ARD, -1.1 per 1000 CI, -2.0 to -0.2).
Persons who rapidly died of severe COVID-19 illness may not have had SARS-CoV-2 testing.
The O and Rh- blood groups may be associated with a slightly lower risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe COVID-19 illness.
Ontario Academic Health Sciences Centre AFP Innovation Fund and the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
Background & objectives: In multitransfused thalassaemic patients, haemagglutination fails to phenotype the patient's blood group antigens due to the presence of donor-derived erythrocytes. DNA-based ...methods can overcome the limitations of haemagglutination and can be used to determine the correct antigen profile of these patients. This will facilitate the procurement of antigen-matched blood for transfusion to multitransfused patients. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare the serological phenotyping of common and clinically important antigens of Rh, Duffy, Kell, Kidd and MNS blood group systems with molecular genotyping amongst multitransfused thalassaemic patients.
Methods: Blood samples from 200 patients with thalassaemia and 100 'O' group regular blood donors were tested using standard serological techniques and polymerase chain reaction-based methods for common antigens/alleles (C, c, D, E, e, Fya, Fyb, Jka, Jkb, K, k, M, N, S, s).
Results: Genotyping and phenotyping results were discordant in 77 per cent of thalassaemic patients for five pairs of antithetical antigens of Rh, Duffy, Kell and Kidd blood group systems. In the MNS blood group system, 59.1 per cent of patients showed discrepancy. The rate of alloimmunization among thalassaemics was 7.5 per cent.
Interpretation & conclusions: Molecular genotyping enabled the determination of the actual antigen profile in multitransfused thalassaemia patients. This would help reduce the problem of alloimmunization in such patients and would also aid in the better management of transfusion therapy.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Intentional blood group (BG)-incompatible (ABOi) heart transplantation in childhood is emerging in many centers. Safety limits remain undetermined. In this multicenter study we have compiled ...experience on clinical and immunologic boundaries.
Data from six centers in Europe and North America on ABOi transplantation were collected in a standardized survey.
Fifty-eight ABOi transplants were performed in 57 patients. Median age at transplant was 6.8 months (0.03 to 90 months); post-transplant follow-up was 37.7 months (0.46 to 117 months), accumulating 188 patient-years. Forty-seven percent of the patients received pretransplant mechanical circulatory support. Donors were either blood group A (n = 25), B (n = 18) or AB (n = 15). The median peak antibody titer to the donor BG pretransplant was 1:8 (0 to 1:64) for anti-A and 1:4 (0 to 1:32) for anti-B. Titers against the donor BG were lower post- than pretransplant in B recipients (p = 0.02), whereas third-party antibodies in BG O recipients developed normally post-transplant. Induction immunosuppression included anti-thymocyte globulin (61%), basiliximab (32%) or none (7%). All patients received calcineurin inhibitors, including 62% with mycophenolate mofetil, 10% with azathioprine, 2% with everolimus and 24% with steroids. There were 4 episodes of cellular rejection (Grade≥2R) and 7 antibody-mediated rejections. Five patients underwent antibody removal post-transplant. One patient developed severe graft vasculopathy. Freedom from death or retransplantation was 100%/96%/69% at 1/5/10 years. No graft loss was attributed to BG antibodies.
Successful ABOi heart transplantation can be performed at an older age and with higher isohemagglutinin titers than initially assumed and using similar immunosuppressive regimens as for ABO-compatible transplants. Rejection and graft vasculopathy are rare. Persistently low titers of antibodies to the donor BG post-transplant suggest elements of tolerance and/or accommodation.
PDF
