Correlation of ABH blood group antigens secretion with Helicobacter pylori infection in Pakistani patients

A and B blood group antigens are fucosylated carbohydrate present on human erythrocytes and body secretions. Their presence in body secretions depends on the expression of a dominant allele of secretor gene FUT2 and is correlated with susceptibility to various infectious and non-infectious diseases. We investigated the correlation of blood group and ABH antigen secretion with Helicobacter pylori infection and gastroduodenal symptoms and analysed the distribution of babA gene among ABH secretors and non-secretors.

Two hundred and ninety patients who underwent gastroduodenal endoscopy during 2011 to 2012 participated. Gastric biopsy, saliva and blood samples were obtained from every patient. Gastric biopsies were subjected to rapid urease test and PCR for the detection of H. pylori and babA gene. Blood grouping and ABH antigens secretions were determined by Lewis blood group phenotyping and haemagglutination inhibition test.

50.34% of patients were ABH antigen secretors and 45.51% non-secretors. Distribution analysis of blood group revealed that 40 blood group B, 67 blood group A 20 blood group O and 19 blood group AB patients secreted ABH antigens in saliva. Fifty-six blood group O, 19 blood group B, 32 blood group A and 17 blood group AB patients were non-secretors. Gastroduodenal complaints were common among non-secretors. Sixty-two percent of patients with a combination of duodenal ulcer and gastro-oesophageal reflux and 54% of patients with gastritis were non-secretors. Of 290 samples, 31.02% were positive for H. pylori. Thirty percent of these tested positive for babA gene; the majority belonged to non-secretor blood group O.

Our results suggest that the infection of H. pylori is correlated with ABO blood groups and blood group antigens secretion in body fluids.