title: Helicobacter pylori infection and blood groups.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Bacterial attachment is a prerequisite for colonization of the gastric epithelial surface. Recently, it was demonstrated that the receptor for Helicobacter pylori is the blood group antigen Lewis b, which is exposed only in blood group O. We prospectively examined the prevalence of blood groups in H. pylori-positive and -negative patients. To avoid a genetic bias, we compared blood group prevalence of our patients with the general population of Israel.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the 187 consecutive patients we studied, in addition to regular upper endoscopy, H. pylori status and blood group. Exposure to H. pylori was diagnosed when the results of two or more of three methods were found to be positive.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Exposure was found in 123 patients and 64 negative. The groups were similar in average age and origin, and no significant difference was demonstrated for blood group. Blood group distribution between any given origin was not significantly different in our patients and in a sample of 182,701 blood donors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Positivity for H. pylori was not associated with blood group O. Our observation does not support the conclusion that the receptor for H. pylori in the gastric mucosa is the blood group antigen Lewis b.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Beilinson Medical Center, Petach-Tikya, Israel.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Niv
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Delpre
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Neeman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leiser
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Samra
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Scapa
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gilon
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bar-Shany
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000208:ethnology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D007585:Jews / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D001789:Blood Group Antigens