The Distribution and Phenotypes of Blood Groups in Hematologic Malignancies

Blood groups are associated with duodenal ulcer, diabetes mellitus, and urinary tract infection. In some studies, a relationship was detected between hematologic and solid organ malignancies and blood groups. In this study, we investigated the frequency and phenotypes of blood groups (ABO, Kell, Duffy, Rh) in patients with hematologic malignancies.

One hundred sixty-one patients with hematologic malignancy (multiple myeloma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and chronic myelocytic leukemia) and 41 healthy people were evaluated prospectively. We determined phenotypes and distribution of ABO, Rh, Kell, and Duffy blood groups in all cases. Chi-square test and 1-way variance analysis were used for statistical analysis. P < .05 value was considered statistically significant.

In patients with multiple myeloma, the A blood group was statistically significantly more frequent than in the control group (P = .021). Rh negativity was found more frequent in patients with hematologic malignancy than the control group (P = .009). Kpa and Kpb antigen positivity were found statistically significantly less frequent in patients with hematologic malignancy (P = .013, P = .007; respectively). Fy (a-b-) and K-k+ phenotypes were higher in patients with hematologic cancer than in the control group (P = .045).

We determined a significant relationship between hematologic malignancies and blood group systems. In our study, due to the low number of cases and few hematological malignancy types, extensive studies with more cases and more hematologic cancer types are needed.