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Association of Lewis blood group with ischaemic heart disease
1Department of Transfusion Medicine, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow.
Insights
Individuals with the Le(a-b-) Lewis blood group phenotype have a significantly higher risk of developing ischaemic heart disease (IHD). This study found a higher prevalence of this phenotype in Indian IHD patients compared to healthy controls.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Hematology
- Genetics
Background:
- Ischaemic heart disease (IHD) is a leading cause of mortality worldwide.
- Blood group phenotypes have been investigated for associations with various diseases.
- The Lewis blood group system, particularly the Le(a-b-) phenotype, warrants further investigation in IHD etiology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between Lewis blood group phenotypes and ischaemic heart disease (IHD) in an Indian population.
- To determine if the Le(a-b-) phenotype is a risk factor for IHD.
Main Methods:
- Lewis blood group typing was performed on 96 IHD patients and 104 healthy controls using saline haemagglutination and monoclonal antisera.
- Phenotype frequencies were compared between the patient and control groups.
- Relative risk for the Le(a-b-) phenotype was calculated.
Main Results:
- A significantly higher prevalence of the Le(a-b-) phenotype was observed in IHD patients (29.1%) compared to controls (9.6%) (P < 0.01).
- The relative risk of IHD associated with the Le(a-b-) phenotype was calculated to be 3.87, indicating a highly significant association.
- The study identified an increased frequency of the Le(a-b-) phenotype in Indian patients diagnosed with IHD.
Conclusions:
- The Le(a-b-) Lewis blood group phenotype is significantly more frequent in Indian patients with ischaemic heart disease.
- This phenotype may represent a potential genetic risk factor for the development of IHD in this population.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms linking the Le(a-b-) phenotype to IHD.
Abstract:
A total of 96 patients (74 males and 22 females) with ischaemic heart disease (IHD) who presented at a hospital in north India for cardiac bypass surgery, percutaneous coronary angioplasty or unstable angina were investigated for Lewis blood group phenotypes. A hundred and four normal healthy blood donors matched for age and sex served as controls. Lewis blood group typing was carried out on red cells using saline haemagglutination technique in a test tube with monoclonal antisera. 29.1 per cent of IHD patients had Le(a-b-) phenotype compared to 9.6 per cent of controls (P < 0.01). The relative risk of IHD for Le(a-b-) phenotype was found to be highly significant (risk = 3.87). We conclude that there is an increased frequency of Le(a-b-) phenotype among Indian patients with IHD.