ABO and Rh Blood Groups Association with Hemoglobin and Serum Ferritin Levels in Patients with Iron Deficiency Anemia: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND: Iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) is a common and widespread disease; but the role of blood groups ABO and Rh in affecting haemoglobin (Hb) and ferritin is unclear and has yet to be found. OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between ABO and Rh blood group systems and serum Hb and ferritin concentration in adults with IDA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 130 subjects (65 patients with IDA and age- and sex-matched controls). ABO and Rh blood types were determined by the agglutination method. Hb was measured by an automated system and serum ferritin by chemiluminescence immunoassay. Analysis was done using the SPSS software version 20 and appropriate parametric or nonparametric statistics. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant correlation between ABO or Rh blood group distribution and the incidence of IDA. Nonetheless, the levels of Hb and serum (s.) ferritin were significantly lower among patients than controls ( P < 0.001). In the IDA group, hematological variables such as Hb ( P = 0.040) and ferritin ( P = 0.004) significantly differed across ABO blood groups, while no differences were found among controls. CONCLUSION: ABO and Rh blood groups were not associated with the risk of IDA. However, differences of Hb and ferritin concentrations among ABO blood groups indicate a possible role in modifying the disease expression and needs to be confirmed in larger, well-designed studies.