ABO blood group system and placental malaria in an area of unstable malaria transmission in eastern Sudan.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Understanding the pathogenesis of malaria in pregnancy and its consequences for both the mother and the baby is fundamental for improving malaria control in pregnant women.

AIM:

The study aimed to investigate the role of ABO blood groups on pregnancy outcomes in an area of unstable malaria transmission in eastern Sudan.

METHODS:

A total of 293 women delivering in New Half teaching hospital, eastern Sudan during the period October 2006-March 2007 have been analyzed. ABO blood groups were determined and placental histopathology examinations for malaria were performed. Birth and placental weight were recorded and maternal haemoglobin was measured.

RESULTS:

114 (39.7%), 61 (22.1%) and 118 (38.2%) women were primiparae, secundiparae and multiparae, respectively. The ABO blood group distribution was 82(A), 59 (B), 24 (AB) and 128 (O). Placental histopathology showed acute placental malaria infections in 6 (2%), chronic infections in 6 (2%), 82 (28.0%) of the placentae showed past infection and 199 (68.0%) showed no infection. There was no association between the age (OR = 1.02, 95% CI = 0.45-2.2; P = 0.9), parity (OR = 0.6, 95% CI = 0.3-1.2; P = 0.1) and placental malaria infections. In all parity blood group O was associated with a higher risk of past (OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.1-3.2; P = 0.01) placental malaria infection. This was also true when primiparae were considered separately (OR = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.05-6.5, P = 0.03). Among women with all placental infections/past placental infection, the mean haemoglobin was higher in women with the blood group O, but the mean birth weight, foeto-placental weight ratio was not different between these groups and the non-O group.

CONCLUSION:

These results indicate that women of eastern Sudan are at risk for placental malaria infection irrespective to their age or parity. Those women with blood group O were at higher risk of past placental malaria infection.

• Authors: Ishag Adam, Saud Babiker, Ahmed A Mohmmed, Magdi M Salih, Martin H Prins, Zaki M Zaki
• Journal: Malaria journal (Malar J) Vol. 6 Pg. 110 (Aug 10 2007) ISSN: 1475-2875 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 17692119 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• ABO Blood-Group System
• Hemoglobins

Topics

• ABO Blood-Group System
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Female
• Hemoglobins (analysis)
• Humans
• Malaria, Falciparum (blood, epidemiology)
• Placenta (pathology)
• Placenta Diseases (blood, epidemiology)
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic (blood, epidemiology)
• Risk Factors
• Sudan (epidemiology)