Association between ABO and Rh Blood Groups and Risk of Preeclampsia: A Case-Control Study from Iran

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Medical Genetics
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Preeclampsia (PE) is a significant global health concern, contributing to maternal and neonatal mortality.
• Genetic factors play a role in PE development, with heritability estimated at 0.47.
• Previous research on ABO blood groups and PE risk has yielded inconsistent findings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between maternal ABO and Rh blood groups and the risk of preeclampsia in the Iranian population.
• To address the lack of studies on this topic within Iran.
• To provide population-specific data on blood groups and PE risk.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 331 pregnant women (121 with PE, 210 normotensive controls).
• ABO and Rh blood group phenotypes were analyzed.
• Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for PE risk, with blood group O and Rh+ as references.
• Analyses were adjusted for maternal age and parity.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant association was found between ABO blood group phenotypes (A, B, AB) and PE risk compared to blood group O.
• The Rh- phenotype showed a higher frequency in PE patients, but this association was not statistically significant.
• Adjusted analyses confirmed the lack of significant associations for both ABO and Rh blood groups with PE risk.

Conclusions:

• The study concludes that neither ABO nor Rh blood groups are significantly associated with preeclampsia risk in the Iranian population.
• These findings suggest that blood groups may not be useful predictors for PE in this specific ethnic group.
• Further research may be needed to explore other genetic or environmental factors influencing PE in Iran.