ABSTRACT:
Purpose: To find ABO blood group distribution among asthmatic patients in addition to the association between blood group phenotype and asthma severity. Methods: Sixty patients with asthma were included in this study. The ABO and Rh blood group were determined using agglutination reaction method. Asthma control test (ACT) and pulmonary function test (PFT) using spirometry were used for determination of asthma severity. Results: The blood group distribution among asthmatic patients was in order of B>A>O>AB with the frequency distribution of (33.33%), (30%), (28.33%), (8.34%) respectively with significant differences among them (P<0.05) and (90%) of patients was with Rh blood group positive. Regarding asthma control test (ACT) most of asthmatic patients (78.3%) presented with uncontrolled asthma, (25%) was with blood group (O) followed by blood group (A, B) in same frequency (23.3%). Pulmonary function test using Spirometry, the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), it was found that (71.7%) of asthmatic patients had severe asthma (FEV1<60) mostly in patients with blood group A (23.4%) and O (21.7%). Severe asthma in case of Forced Vital Capacity (FVC<60) mostly found in patients with blood group O (20%). Blood group B (26.7%) is associated with severe asthma in case of peak expiratory flow (PEF<60). Conclusion: Although this study tries to find association between ABO blood group phenotype distribution and asthma prevalence, there is no unanimity in this finding regarding the association of ABO blood group phenotype and asthma severity.