Relation of Immune Thrombocytopenia and Blood Group: A Retrospective Single Center Study

Abstract

Aim: Although blood group antigens were initially identified as erythrocyte surface antigens and their significance was mainly ascribed to serology, it soon became evident that these antigens are widely distributed in human tissues such as platelets. Immunthrombocytopenia (ITP) is a common autoimmune disorder characterized by a low platelet count. In our study, we investigated the relationship between ABO and Rhesus (Rh) blood groups and primary ITP. Material and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at our center with 304 patients diagnosed with primary ITP and 491 blood donors. Results: ABO phenotype in patients group A, B, O, AB were 42.8%, 14.1%, 34.9%, 8.2%, respectively and 51.6%, 8.1%, 27.9%, 12.4% in the control group, respectively. Rh phenotype in patients group positive or negative 87.5%, 12.5 % respectively and 88.8%, 11.2% in the control group, respectively. A total of 304 patients with primary ITP, consisting of 203 (66.8%) females, and 101(33,2%) males were included in this study. The mean age was 49,5 ±18 years. There was no significant difference in the distribution of ABO blood types and Rh factor by gender (respectively p=0.176, p= 0.195). Conclusion: In our study, no significant difference was found between the blood group distribution in the population and the blood group distribution of patients diagnosed with primary ITP.