The Abo Blood Groups are Related to Diabetic Nephropathy

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to evaluate any possible relationship between DN and ABO-Rh blood groups.

MATERIAL and METHODS: The study included 743 patients with DN and 25253 healthy donors that presented at the Erciyes University Blood Bank in the year 2012.

RESULTS: There was a significant difference between patients with DN and the control group in terms of distribution of ABO blood groups and Rh factor (p: 0.002). A Rh positive blood group was remarkably frequent in patients with DN compared to control subjects (43.3% vs. 38.5%, respectively) whereas frequency of the O Rh positive blood group was remarkably lower in patients with DN compared to control subjects (26.1% vs. 29.5%, respectively). There was a significant difference between patients with DN and the control group in terms of the distribution of the ABO blood groups (p: 0.001). The A blood group was remarkably frequent in patients with DN compared to control subjects (48.3% vs. 43.6%, respectively) whereas frequency of the O blood group was remarkably lower in patients with DN compared to control subjects (28.5% vs. 34.1%, respectively).

CONCLUSION: DN is closely related to the ABO-Rh blood groups, especially the A Rh positive blood group. Possible genetic or other mechanisms of this relationship may be revealed in future studies