Open-angle glaucoma and blood groups. The Barbados Eye Study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association of open-angle glaucoma (OAG) with ABO, Rh and Duffy blood groups in the population-based Barbados Eye Study.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
A subset of black Barbados Eye Study participants, which included 199 OAG cases and 1063 controls.


METHODS
ABO, Rh and Duffy blood groups were determined as part of a comprehensive study visit, which included assessment for OAG through perimetry, fundus photography, and ophthalmologic examination.


METHODS
Comparison of blood groups between OAG cases and nonOAG controls, expressed as odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals.


RESULTS
Associations were found with the Duffy Fya+ group, which is more frequent in white than black populations. In Mantel-Haenszel analyses, OAG was positively associated with Duffy Fya+ in men (odds ratio, 2.67; confidence interval, 1.52 to 4.69) and in persons with intraocular pressure more than 21 mm Hg (odds ratio, 3.32; confidence interval, 1.49 to 7.38). Logistic regression analyses confirmed these findings (interaction of Duffy Fya+ and male gender, P = .01; interaction of Duffy Fya+ and intraocular pressure, P = .04). No associations between OAG and the ABO or Rh blood groups were seen.


CONCLUSIONS
The associations with Duffy Fya+, which had not been reported previously in a black population, support the involvement of genetic factors in OAG. However, the lack of association between OAG and blood group markers of African ancestry is inconsistent with a genetic explanation for the differences in OAG prevalence between blacks and whites. Our findings suggest gene-environment interactions in OAG, to be explored by further studies of OAG and Fy markers by racial group and gender.
Leske
M C
MC
University Medical Center at Stony Brook, NY, USA.
Nemesure
B B
BB
He
Q
Q
Mendell
N
N
Polednak
A
A
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001460:Barbados; D044383:Black People / Q000235:genetics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004375:Duffy Blood-Group System / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System / Q000235:genetics*
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D004375:Duffy Blood-Group System; D005819:Genetic Markers; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System