Abstract:
Background: The clinical outcome of Plasmodium falciparum
malaria in endemic areas is associated with erythrocyte polymor-
phisms including the ABO blood groups. Studies have reported
association of ABO blood group to susceptibility, resistance and
severity of P. falciparum malaria infection. Individuals with blood
group ‘A’ have been found to be highly susceptible to falciparum
malaria whereas blood group ‘O’ is said to confer protection against
complicated cases.
Methods: The study was conducted between January to April
2010, at the outpatient department of the Korle-Bu teaching Hos-
pital in Accra, Ghana. Five milliliters of blood sample was collected
from each participant and the haemoglobin level, parasitaemia and
ABO blood group of the samples collected were determined.
Results: We analysed samples from 239 malaria patients and
found that group O was present in 16.1% of complicated cases
weighed against 40.9% of uncomplicated controls. Individuals with
complicated malaria were about twice likely to be of blood group A
and B than O (A vs. O, OR=1.90, 95% CI=1.59 – 2.26, P<0.0001; B vs. O,
OR=1.82. 95% CI=1.57 – 2.23, P<0.0001). Blood group O participants
with complicated diseases had low parasitaemia compared to the
blood groups (P<0.0001). This may give blood group O individuals a
survival advantage over the other groups in complicated malaria as
suggested. Participants with complicated falciparum malaria were
generally anaemic and younger than those with uncomplicated
disease
Conclusion: Blood group O offers some protection from com-
plicated falciparum malaria and may possess a survival advantage
over the Non-O groups.
