Abstracto

The influence of blood group on disease pattern globally: a review of literature

James Inyang Asuquo

Genetic factors are known to influence incidences of diseases worldwide. For example individuals with
haemoglobin AS are known to be resistant to infection with plasmodium falciparum. In this reviewed
paper we examined the relationship between ABO blood group and severity of plasmodium falciparum
infection. Individuals with blood group O are more resistant to severe infection than others. Study
by Airs et all (1953), which has been collaborated by many other scholars shows that incidences of
gastric and pancreatic cancers are more common among blood group A individuals. Helicopter pylori
is micro aerophilic bacteria that infects the GIT and cause stomach ulcer. The prevalence is more with
blood group O individuals than other blood groups. Norovirus an RNA virus that causes gastro enteritis
is more common among secretors of ABH substance while non-secretor are more resistant to the
organism. According to CDC report of 2016, 36.7 million were living with HIV virus that year. The virus
causes suppression of immunity of infected person. Several studies revealed that non secretors are
resistant to infection by the organism. The relationship between ABO blood group and cardiovascular
diseases was also reviewed, many studies have shown than non-group O are more prone to CVD than
group O while group O are more susceptibility to von willebrand disease. Being Duffy antigen negative
is also known to be protection factor against infection by plasmodium vivax. That explains why most
black people are immuned to infection by the parasite since most are Duffy antigen negative. ABO
blood group also influence incidences of diabetes mellitus. The mechanism behind these selective
susceptibility or resistance in most cases is not well understood, more work still need to be to unravel
the exact mechanism in blood groups affect disease pattern. Individuals are also advised to be aware
of the disease they are vulnerable to as a result of their blood group and avoid the predisposing factors.