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Reduced frequency of blood group Lewis a − b − in female Type 1 diabetes patients
Author(s) -
Kharagjitsingh A. V.,
Prinsen K.,
Lemkes H. H. P. J.,
De Vries R. R. P.,
Roep B. O.,
Buschard K.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
diabetic medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.474
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1464-5491
pISSN - 0742-3071
DOI - 10.1111/j.1464-5491.2007.02340.x
Subject(s) - medicine , diabetes mellitus , group (periodic table) , endocrinology , physics , quantum mechanics
Aims To examine a disputed association between the Lewis(a − b − ) phenotype and Type 1 diabetes (T1D). Methods Lewis red blood cell phenotyping was performed for 97 T1D White patients and 100 control subjects using monoclonal antibodies. Two historical cohorts were also included as a control population. Results T1D patients had a lower frequency (4.1%) of Lewis(a − b − ) blood group compared with simultaneously tested healthy control subjects (10.0%) and the historical control group (11.1%, P = 0.02). Male T1D patients showed a Lewis(a − b − ) frequency of 8.0%, which was similar to both matched healthy male donors (9.8%) and historical (9.5%) male control subjects. Unexpectedly, none of the female T1D patients displayed Lewis(a − b − ) phenotype, vs. 10.3% and 10.8% of female control subjects ( P = 0.039 and 0.017). Conclusions The Lewis(a − b − ) phenotype occurs less frequently in T1D compared with healthy control subjects with a strong female gender bias.