Exploring The Relationship Between Malaria Outcomes And The Four Basic Abo Blood Group Phenotypes

Abstract

The connection between Rh blood group and Plasmodium falciparum infection's severity has been a subject of clinical inquiry, with varying findings. Numerous studies have attempted to establish a link between Rh groups and the occurrence and recurrence of malaria, but the results have remained inconclusive. In this study, spanning eleven months from August 2018 to June 2019, we investigated blood samples from malaria patients at People's Medical College and Hospital in Bhopal. The study included all patients diagnosed with malaria, and analysis was performed using both marginal smear and Quantitative Buffy Coat (QBC) methods. Blood groups were determined using forward and reverse typing techniques.

Results: Out of the 100 cases examined, 61 tested positive for Plasmodium falciparum, and 31 cases were positive for Plasmodium vivax infection. The distribution of blood groups among the patients was as follows: 21 were group A, 40 were group B, 36 were group O, and 1 belonged to the AB group.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that blood group 'O' may confer an advantage over other blood groups due to variations in rosetting ability among red blood cells (RBCs) with different Rh blood groups. Blood group 'O' exhibited a reduced rosetting potential, which could be a contributing factor to the differential host susceptibility to malaria.