ABO blood group genotypes and ventilatory dysfunction in patients with allergic and nonallergic asthma

Aim ABO blood group genotypes are established as a genetic factor in pathophysiology of various diseases, such as cardiovascular disorders, cancers, infectious diseases and there is rising evidence of their involvement in other conditions. The aim of this study was to determine if ventilatory changes of lung function in asthma, measured by biomarkers/parameters, are connected to certain ABO blood group genotypes in Croatia. Methods A case-control study included 149 patients with asthma and 153 healthy individuals (blood donors). ABO genotyping on five main alleles was performed using PCR-SSP method. All patients had spirometry performed and severity of asthma was estimated. Clinical parameters of spirometry (FEV1, FEV/FVC, PEF), biomarkers FeNO, IgE and pO2 were measured. The χ2 test, Fisher's test, Kruskal-Wallis test and Spearman's correlation coefficients with p<0.05 were used as statistically significant. Results There was no determined statistically significant difference in both ABO genotypes and phenotypes between patient and control groups. Comparison of the lung function in different ABO phenotypes in asthmatic patients also did not show any statistically significant differences in FEV1 values, FEV/FVC ratio or PEF. Statistically significant differences in oxygenation between different ABO blood types have not been noticed (p=0.326). Differences in quantitative values of biomarkers (FeNO and IgE) between different ABO blood phenotypes in patients with asthma were not significant, except for IgE that had marginal values (p=0.074). Conclusion No correlation was found between certain ABO blood group genotypes and parameters/biomarkers of ventilatory dysfunction in patients with allergic and nonallergic asthma.