Reduced frequency of blood group Lewis a-b- in female Type 1 diabetes patients.
OBJECTIVE
To examine a disputed association between the Lewis(a(-)b(-)) phenotype and Type 1 diabetes (T1D).


METHODS
Lewis red blood cell phenotyping was performed for 97 T1D White patients and 100 control subjects using monoclonal antibodies. Two historical cohorts were also included as a control population.


RESULTS
T1D patients had a lower frequency (4.1%) of Lewis(a(-)b(-)) blood group compared with simultaneously tested healthy control subjects (10.0%) and the historical control group (11.1%, P = 0.02). Male T1D patients showed a Lewis(a(-)b(-)) frequency of 8.0%, which was similar to both matched healthy male donors (9.8%) and historical (9.5%) male control subjects. Unexpectedly, none of the female T1D patients displayed Lewis(a(-)b(-)) phenotype, vs. 10.3% and 10.8% of female control subjects (P = 0.039 and 0.017).


CONCLUSIONS
The Lewis(a(-)b(-)) phenotype occurs less frequently in T1D compared with healthy control subjects with a strong female gender bias.
Kharagjitsingh
A V
AV
Department of Paediatrics, Sophia Children's Hospital, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Prinsen
K
K
Lemkes
H H P J
HH
de Vries
R R P
RR
Roep
B O
BO
Buschard
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000097:blood*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007983:Lewis Blood Group Antigens / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012737:Sex Factors
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007983:Lewis Blood Group Antigens