ABO blood groups, rhesus factor and Helicobacter pylori.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to demonstrate an association between Helicobacter pylori infection, ABO blood groups and Rhesus factor; providing the association between duodenal ulcer and O group blood as well as the former and H. pylori infection.


METHODS
Three-hundred and one healthy subjects were prospectively studied. In all of them ABO blood groups and Rhesus factor were determined by standard techniques. Systemic IgG antibodies against H. pylori were assayed using a quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique (Helico-G, Porton, Cambridge, UK).


RESULTS
The overall seroprevalence was 52.2%. H. pylori infection distribution was similar among ABO blood groups and Rhesus factor. No statistically significant differences were observed in mean values of IgG antibodies among different blood groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Distribution of H. pylori seroprevalence does not differ between different ABO or Rhesus factor blood groups. This excludes a possible link between this microorganism and the high ulcer prevalence in O blood group.
Martín de Argila
C
C
Gastroenterology Department, Ramón y Cajal Hospital, Universidad de Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.
Boixeda
D
D
Valdezate
S
S
Mir
N
N
Bárcena
R
R
Gisbert
J P
JP
García Plaza
A
A
Cantón
R
R
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System / Q000032:analysis*; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000097:blood*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System / Q000032:analysis*
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System