title: Relative Susceptibilities of ABO Blood Groups to Plasmodium falciparum Malaria in Ghana.
abstract: The clinical outcome of falciparum malaria in endemic areas is influenced by erythrocyte polymorphisms including the ABO blood groups. Studies have reported association of ABO blood group to resistance, susceptibility, and severity of P. falciparum malaria infection. Individuals with blood group "A" have been found to be highly susceptible to falciparum malaria whereas blood group "O" is said to confer protection against complicated cases. We analyzed samples from 293 young children less than six years old with malaria in the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, Ghana. It was observed that group O was present in about 16.1% of complicated cases weighed against 40.9% of uncomplicated controls. Individuals with complicated malaria were about twice likely to be of blood groups A and B compared to group O (A versus O, OR = 1.90, 95% CI = 1.59-2.26, P < 0.0001; B versus O, OR = 1.82. 95% CI = 1.57-2.23, P < 0.0001). Blood group O participants with complicated diseases had low parasitaemia compared to the other blood groups (P < 0.0001). This may give blood group O individuals a survival advantage over the other groups in complicated malaria as suggested. Participants with complicated falciparum malaria were generally anaemic and younger than those with uncomplicated disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Forensic Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
authors.forename: Richmond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Afoakwah
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Forensic Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
authors.forename: Edmond
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aubyn
authors.affiliation: University Hospital, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Prah
authors.affiliation: Vector Genetics Laboratory, Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute, Atomic Energy Commission, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Ekene Kwabena
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Nwaefuna
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Forensic Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
authors.forename: Johnson N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Boampong