[Blood group and human diseases (review of literature).]

Relationship between ABO Blood Group Distribution and COVID-19 Infection in Patients Admitted to the ICU: A Multicenter Observational Spanish Study

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in December 2019, a relationship between the ABO blood group type and the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the etiological agent of COVID-19, has been reported, noting that individuals with the O blood group are the least likely to be infected. Spain is one of the most badly affected countries worldwide, with high rates of patients diagnosed, hospitalized, and deceased due to COVID-19 infection. The present study aimed to analyze the possible relationship of ABO in COVID-19 patients hospitalized in different Spanish centers during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, for which the ABO group was available. Physicians from the transfusion services of different Spanish hospitals, who have developed a multicenter retrospective observational study, were invited to participate voluntarily in the research and 12,115 patients with COVID-19 infection were admitted to the nine participating hospitals. The blood group was known in 1399 cases (11.5%), of which 365 (26.1%) were admitted to the ICU. Regarding the distribution of ABO blood groups, a significant increase in the non-O blood groups and reduction for the O blood group was observed in patients hospitalized due to COVID-19, compared to the reference general population. Among the patients admitted to the ICU, after multivariate analysis, adjusted for the rest of the confounding variables, patients with the O blood group presented a significantly lower risk for admission to the ICU. We conclude that an association was observed between patients with the O blood group and their lower susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection, both for those admitted to the hospitalization ward and for those who required admission to the ICU.

Carbohydrate Ligands for COVID-19 Spike Proteins

An outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (COVID-19) first detected in Wuhan, China, has created a public health emergency all over the world. The pandemic has caused more than 340 million confirmed cases and 5.57 million deaths as of 23 January 2022. Although carbohydrates have been found to play a role in coronavirus binding and infection, the role of cell surface glycans in SARS-CoV-2 infection and pathogenesis is still not understood. Herein, we report that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein S1 subunit binds specifically to blood group A and B antigens, and that the spike protein S2 subunit has a binding preference for Le^a antigens. Further examination of the binding preference for different types of red blood cells (RBCs) indicated that the spike protein S1 subunit preferentially binds with blood group A RBCs, whereas the spike protein S2 subunit prefers to interact with blood group Le^a RBCs. Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a known target of SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins, was identified to be a blood group A antigen-containing glycoprotein. Additionally, 6-sulfo N-acetyllactosamine was found to inhibit the binding of the spike protein S1 subunit with blood group A RBCs and reduce the interaction between the spike protein S1 subunit and ACE2.

The association of ABO blood types with host susceptibility to hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome

Since the discovery of ABO blood types, there has been mounting evidence of the association between blood types and infectious diseases. However, so far, there is rarely available research about the potential role of ABO blood types in haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) infection. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between ABO blood types and the development of HFRS infection in Qingdao, China. We carried out a retrospective study enrolling 116 HFRS patients as the case group and 373 healthy subjects as the control group. ABO blood type distribution was analysed using the Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis. Results showed that the distribution of ABO blood types between the two groups was significantly different (X2 = 18.151, P < 0.05). Blood type B was less frequently observed [odds ratio (OR), 0.404; confidence interval (CI), 0.238–0.684; P < 0.01], while blood type AB was more frequently observed in the case group (OR, 2.548; CI, 1.427–4.549; P < 0.01). Since significantly more males were affected than females, we further analysed the data by gender as well as blood types and obtained consistent results for males. Our findings indicated that populations with blood type AB might be more prone to HFRS infection, whereas those with blood type B might be less susceptible to HFRS infection, which will help to make risk stratification in infection control.

Assessment of Relationship of ABO Blood Groups in Oral Cancer Patients - A Retrospective Study

Introduction:

India is a high-risk region for oropharyngeal cancer (OC) due to high prevalence of tobacco, betel nut, and alcohol and accounts for 30% of all new cases of oral cancer annually.

Materials and Methods:

Records of all 73 diagnosed cases of different types of OC and oropharynx patients were analyzed who reported in “Tobacco cessation center”’ of the Institute between January 2017 and December 2019. The patients’ demographic details, blood groups, oral habits, and clinicohistological records were obtained from the medical records available in the hospital.

Results:

OC incidence was 3.75 cases/year with male-to-female ratio 3.29:1. Mean age was 51.25 ± 13.6 years. The most common site of tumour presentation was mandibular alveolar ridge. Combined use of tobacco/betal nut/alcohol constituted the major cause for the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Majority patients were presented in Stage II (43.8%). Histopathological reports were suggestive of maximally well-differentiated (52.1%) OSCC. People with blood group A+ve had 3.22 times higher risk of developing OSCC compared to people of other blood groups.

Discussion:

Male: female ratio was reported higher than in most of other studies. Mandibular alveolus was the most frequent site because most of the patients tend to keep the tobacco quid in the buccal vestibule with close proximity to alveolus. The relative downregulation of glycosyl transferase that is involved in the biosynthesis of A and B antigens as seen in association with tumour development could be the reason for increased OC reported in blood group A subjects.

Infection and thrombosis associated with COVID-19: Possible role of the ABO blood group

Background

SARS-CoV-2 infection is clinically very heterogeneous, varying from asymptomatic to severe clinical conditions with a fatal outcome. Some studies suggests that the ABO blood group could be a biological marker of susceptibility for the development of the disease.

Material and methods

We collected data from patients admitted with COVID-19 infection who had ABO blood group recorded, and analyzed the incidence by groups, compared with the global population in Navarre, as well as their main complications and evolution.

Results

Group O was proportionally less represented in the hospitalized patients with respect to the global population, although the difference was not statistically significant. Group B had significantly higher rates of thrombotic complications and required more admissions in intensive care units.

Conclusion

The study suggests a lower susceptibility to infection in group O and a higher risk of complications in group B. Studies with a larger sample size are required in order to obtain significant results.

[Infection and thrombosis associated with COVID-19: Possible role of the ABO blood group]

Introducción

La infección por SARS-CoV-2 presenta gran heterogeneidad clínica, desde asintomática hasta cuadros clínicos graves con un desenlace fatal. Algunos autores refieren el grupo sanguíneo ABO como posible marcador biológico de susceptibilidad para la enfermedad.

Pacientes y métodos

Se ha recogido a los pacientes ingresados con infección por COVID-19 y se ha analizado la incidencia por grupos en relación con la base poblacional de la Comunidad Foral de Navarra, así como sus principales complicaciones y evolución.

Resultados

Los pacientes de grupo O ingresados con infección por COVID-19 son proporcionalmente menos respecto a la base poblacional, sin ser la diferencia estadísticamente significativa. Los grupos AB y B son un 38% más en el grupo de infectados que en la población. El grupo B ha presentado significación estadística en cuanto al número de complicaciones trombóticas junto con mayor tasa de ingreso en unidades de Cuidados Intensivos.

Conclusión

El estudio sugiere menor susceptibilidad a la infección de los pacientes de grupos O y mayor riesgo de complicaciones en el grupo B. Hacen falta estudios con mayor tamaño muestral para poder obtener resultados significativos.