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Blood groups and affective disorders
N Takazawa1, T Kimura, S Nanko
1Department of Psychiatry, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Insights
Japanese patients with affective disorders show distinct blood group distributions. Specifically, higher frequencies of blood group B and Duffy (Fy(a+b+)) were observed, alongside altered Kidd blood group patterns in bipolar disorder patients.
Area of Science:
- Genetics and Psychiatry
- Population Genetics
- Medical Genetics
Background:
- Blood group antigens are genetically determined and their distributions can vary significantly across populations.
- Previous research has explored associations between certain blood groups and various psychiatric disorders, though findings are often inconsistent.
- Affective disorders, including Major Depression and Bipolar Disorder, represent a significant public health concern with complex etiologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distribution of seven major blood group systems (ABO, MNSs, P, Rh, Duffy, Kidd, Xg) in Japanese patients diagnosed with affective disorders.
- To compare blood group frequencies between different subtypes of affective disorders (Unipolar Depression, Bipolar Disorder) and healthy controls.
- To identify potential genetic markers associated with affective disorders through blood group analysis.
Main Methods:
- Blood samples were collected from 118 Japanese patients diagnosed with affective disorders according to DSM-III criteria.
- The study analyzed the frequencies of seven blood group systems: ABO, MNSs, P, Rh, Duffy, Kidd, and Xg.
- Statistical comparisons were made between patient groups (overall affective disorders, Unipolar Disorder, Bipolar Disorder) and control populations.
Main Results:
- A significantly higher frequency of the B blood group (ABO system) was observed in all patients with affective disorders compared to controls.
- The Duffy blood group showed a higher frequency of Fy(a+b+) and a lower frequency of Fy(a+b-) in patients with affective disorders, Unipolar Disorder, and Bipolar Disorder compared to controls.
- Patients with Bipolar Disorder exhibited a lower frequency of Jk(a+b+) and a higher frequency of Jk(a+b-) in the Kidd blood group compared to both controls and patients with Unipolar Disorder.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest a potential association between specific blood group profiles and affective disorders in the Japanese population.
- The observed alterations in ABO, Duffy, and Kidd blood group distributions may indicate a genetic predisposition or linkage to affective disorders.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the biological mechanisms underlying these associations and their implications for understanding the pathogenesis of affective disorders.
Abstract:
Distributions of seven blood groups (ABO, MNSs, P, Rh, Duffy, Kidd and Xg) were studied in a total of 118 Japanese patients with affective disorders. The patients were diagnosed according to the DSM-III: (1) Major Depression (= Unipolar Disorder, UP) (2) Bipolar Disorder (BP) and (3) Other Affective Disorders. The following results were found: (1) a high frequency of the B blood group in all patients with affective disorders compared with controls; (2) a high frequency of the Fy(a+b+) and a low frequency of the Fy(a+b-) in all patients with affective disorders, UP and BP compared with controls; (3) a low frequency of the Jk(a+b+) and a high frequency of the Jk(a+b-) in BP compared with controls and with UP.