A STUDY OF ASSOCIATION OF ABO BLOOD GROUPS WITH THE TYPE AND SEVERITY OF MALARIA.

Context:-This study summarizes the understanding of relationship between ABO blood group and the incidence and complications of malaria in Western Maharashtra Aims and Objectives:-To determine the type of malarial infection in conjunction with a particular blood group and also to study the blood group in which the rates of complications of malaria were higher.. Materials & Methods:-This was a prospective study over one year period at a tertiary care centre in Western Maharashtra. Peripheral smear was the main diagnostic procedure. ABO blood group, complete haemogram, renal functions and liver functions of total 160 patients of malarial fever were analysed. All patients of P.vivax were treated with chloroquine and later followed to check for relapse of malaria. Results:-Of the total 160 patients of malaria, 145 patients were positive for P.vivax(90.6%) and 15 patients for P.falciparum(9.4%). B-positive blood group was found in 52 patients(32.5%) of malaria, O-positive blood group in 21 patients(12.65%), B-negative blood group in 13 patients(7.83%), O-negative blood group in 6 patients(3.61%). 55 patients(34.37%) suffered from thrombocytopenia, of which P.vivax constituted 89.1%(n=49) and P.falciparum 10.9%(n=6). All the patients suffering from P.vivax infection were treated with chloroquine and primaquine thus resulting in complete cure. Conclusion:-Although, in our study, patients with B-positive blood group were a bit more susceptible to the chances of malarial infection and O-negative blood group were the least susceptible ones, this difference is not statistically significant thus indicating the need for further genetic studies to analyse this correlation as the ABO groups are genetically controlled. Our study also proves that the P.vivax strains are still susceptible to the chloroquine therapy in Western Maharashtra.