Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Clinical Research Development Center, Imam Reza Hospital, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.

Abstract

 Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is one of the most common systemic inflammatory diseases and can damage various organs.
This study aimed to compare the frequency of major blood groups and their relationships with SLE organ involvement in lupus
patients and a control group. In this case-control study, 326 patients with SLE who attended rheumatology clinics of Kermanshah
and 335 healthy individuals were included (age: cases = 36.77±11.43, controls = 36.2±12.72,
p value = 0.053; female sex:
cases=332 (98.8%), controls = 335 (100%),
p value = 0.059). Blood groups (BGs) of the patients and the controls were provided.
Organ involvement was assessed using patients’ records, periodic follow-up tests, and clinical examinations.
In general, without considering RH, there was no significant difference in the distribution of O, A, B, and AB blood groups between
the SLE patients and the controls. There was no relation among different organ involvements in SLE patients and BGs except for
mucosal skin lesions which were significantly higher in the AB blood group (
p value < 0.05). In RH positive individuals, there
was a significant difference in the frequency of the AB blood group between SLE patients and the controls (23 (7.4%) vs. 36
(11.7%),
p value = 0.034). In RH negative individuals, there was a significant difference in the frequency of the A blood group
between SLE patients and the controls (2 (13.3%) vs. 10 (37%),
p value = 0.037).
There is no difference in the frequency of different BGs between SLE patients and healthy people. Moreover, no significant relation
between different organ involvement in Lupus patients and BG was found, except for mucosal ulcers. Therefore, ’blood group
cannot be used as a predictor of disease status.

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