[P1 blood group, secretion status and susceptibility to asymptomatic bacteriuria in diabetes]

Blood-group antigens found on uroepithelial cells and in the secretions may affect bacterial adherence and thereby the predisposition to urinary tract infection. We determined P1, Lewis-blood-group phenotype and secretor status in patients with diabetes mellitus: 12 with asymptomatic bacteriuria and 7 without its presence. There was no difference between the two groups in the distribution of the P1 phenotype. There was also no statistical difference in the distribution of the Lewis phenotype and secretor status, although there appeared to be general trend of higher number of Le (a+b-) phenotype and non-secretors present in the asymptomatic bacteriuria group. Further studies are necessary to determine the role of blood groups and secretor status in the pathogenesis and susceptibility to urinary tract infection.