[ad_1]
“The results of our study show that people with blood group O are statistically significantly less likely to develop Covid-19 than people with other ABO phenotypes (blood group A, B, or AB),” the researchers report. Blood group AB, on the other hand, was found significantly more frequently in infected people and people suffering from Covid-19, compared to the frequency of appearance in the healthy population (group of blood donors from the blood donation service of the WCC).
However, the severity of Covid-19 disease is not affected by ABO blood group. This means that the disease is not easier in people with blood group O than in people with blood group AB. Currently, ABO blood group determination should not be used as a prognostic factor for the course of disease.
“In our study we are investigating whether ABO blood group properties may represent a potential additional risk factor for COVID-19 infection and disease,” adds Thomas Wagner. In the first research results presented, it was already possible to demonstrate that there is a connection between the blood group and a SARS-CoV-2 infection is detectable, which can confirm the first indications of a study from China and an association study of all the genome (European research group GWAS COVID-19).
“The task now is to precisely investigate the mechanism that plays a role here.” Other blood group systems are also included in the tests, “said Eva Maria Matzhold, study leader, molecular biologist at the University Clinic of Blood Group Serology and Transfusion Medicine, Maund Thomas Wagner.
What differentiates blood groups?
Red blood cells (Erythrocytes) are ring-shaped cells that carry oxygen and carbon dioxide through the bloodstream. The “coat” of red blood cells is called the “membrane.” There are many different carbohydrates (sugar) and proteins in this membrane. These give red blood cells a certain surface structure, they are also called “antigens”. “Blood group carbohydrates” A and B are also such antigens. For the ABO blood group, a distinction is made between the properties A, B, AB and O (zero). People with blood group “O” do not have any of these blood group antigens on the surface of their red blood cells. In people with the “AB” blood type, both carbohydrates (A and B) are contained in the red blood cell membrane. With blood group “A” only antigen “A” is present, with blood group “B” only antigen “B”.
