Case-control study of maternal blood group and severe pre-eclampsia.
The relation of maternal blood group to pre-eclampsia has not been adequately studied in previous research. To investigate this relation, we conducted a case-control study of primigravidae. Data on 204 consecutive severely pre-eclamptic patients delivered pre-term and 744 controls were analysed using multivariate methods. After adjustment for the confounding effects of maternal age, social class, origin, education, pre-pregnancy weight and body mass index, and weight gain in pregnancy, we found an increased risk of pre-eclampsia for mothers with blood type AB (adjusted odds ratio = 3.07; 95% confidence interval 1.48-6.36). With respect to blood group O, A, B and Rh type, no statistically significant correlation with severe pre-eclampsia was found. Although these results should be considered with caution, they support the hypothesis of a linkage mechanism involving blood group in the inheritance of susceptibility to pre-eclampsia.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
A
A
Spinillo
E
E
Capuzzo
F
F
Baltaro
G
G
Piazzi
A
A
Iasci
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D001789:Blood Group Antigens