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| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2016 | Volume
: 18
| Issue : 1 | Page : 38-42 |
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Distribution of ABO, Rh D blood groups and hemoglobin phenotypes among pregnant women attending a Tertiary Hospital in Yola, Nigeria
Jessy Thomas Medugu1, Usman Abjah2, Idris Abdullahi Nasir3, Simeon Adegoke4, Emmanuel Etim Asuquo5
1 Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria
2 Department of Haematology, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria
3 Department of Medical Laboratory Services, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, FCT Abuja, Nigeria
4 Department of Laboratory Investigations, Zankli Medical Services, Garki, FCT Abuja, Nigeria
5 Department of Medical Laboratory Services, Federal Medical Centre, Adamawa State, Yola, Nigeria
| Date of Web Publication | 1-Mar-2016 |
Correspondence Address:
Idris Abdullahi Nasir
Department of Medical Laboratory Services, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, FCT Abuja
Nigeria
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/2276-7096.177829
Background: Attempts being made to unravel the relationship between blood antigens, hemoglobin (Hb) genotypes and increased susceptibility to certain diseases are ongoing.
Objective: The study was carried out to provide data on the distribution of ABO, Rh D, and Hb variants among pregnant women receiving antenatal care at Federal Medical Centre, Yola, Nigeria.
Materials and Methods: Medical records of these subjects (n = 2226) were sorted out and analyzed according to their ABO blood group phenotypes and Hb variants.
Results: Blood group O was the most prevalent (47.7%) among our subjects, followed by A (26.6%), B (22.2%), and AB (3.5%). The Rh D antigen was positive in 97.1% and negative in 2.9% of the study population. There were five Hb genotypes AA (81.94%), AC (0.34%), AS (17.57%), SC (0.05%), and SS (0.14%). The occurrence of different ABO, Rh D blood groups and Hb variants varied significantly (P < 0.05) among pregnant women studied.
Conclusion: The frequency of ABO and Rh D blood groups will assist in the formulation of genetic counseling policies. Keywords: ABO, RhD, blood groups, hemoglobin variants, Nigeria, pregnant women
How to cite this article:
Medugu JT, Abjah U, Nasir IA, Adegoke S, Asuquo EE. Distribution of ABO, Rh D blood groups and hemoglobin phenotypes among pregnant women attending a Tertiary Hospital in Yola, Nigeria. J Med Trop 2016;18:38-42 |
How to cite this URL:
Medugu JT, Abjah U, Nasir IA, Adegoke S, Asuquo EE. Distribution of ABO, Rh D blood groups and hemoglobin phenotypes among pregnant women attending a Tertiary Hospital in Yola, Nigeria. J Med Trop [serial online] 2016 [cited 2023 Mar 24];18:38-42. Available from: https://www.jmedtropics.org/text.asp?2016/18/1/38/177829 |
| Introduction | |  |
Previous attempts made to establish the relationship between blood group antigens and increased susceptibility to certain diseases has linked some illnesses with the presence or absence of specific red cell antigens.[1],[2] Abnormal hemoglobin (Hb) variants expressed in humans such as sickle cell disorders have been tagged hemoglobinopathies.[3]
ABO and Rh blood group systems are among the most important blood groups in clinical practice.[4] ABO blood group as described by Landsteiner in 1900 constitutes the fundamental basis of blood banking and modern transfusion medicine.[5] The presence of Rh D blood group was recognized in 1939 and subsequently confirmed to be of importance in blood group serology.[6] The importance attached to Rh D blood group system is due to its immunogenicity in negative individuals with multiple blood transfusions and pregnancies.[7]
The first abnormal Hbs were discovered in the middle of last century, and about 1200 variants are currently documented in the Hb variants database.[8] Most of the abnormal Hbs result from a single point mutation while a minor group follows deletional mutations. However, more complex mechanisms have been observed in other associated disorders.[9] Epidemiological data have ascribed what Wajcman in 2013 referred to as Hb genotypes; Hb AA, AS, SS, AC, or SC.
Sickle cell Hb (HbS) differs from normal Hb (HbA) because it has a valine in place of a glutamic acid in position number six of the beta chain of the globin molecule (β6Glu → Val). Whereas Sickle cell disease occurs when an individual is homozygous for the sickle cell mutation or is a compound heterozygote for sickle Hb and beta-thalassemia, Hb C, or some less common beta-globin mutations, the homozygous inheritance of the HbS is referred to as sickle cell anemia.[10]
The homozygous (HbSS) sickle cell disease runs a chronic steady state punctuated by episodes of acute complications (crises). Hb C, the second most common structural Hb variant in people of African descent, is caused by the substitution of glutamic acid in position 6 of the β chain by lysine (β6Glu → Lys).[11]
Some vaso-occlusive complications accompanying the inheritance of abnormal Hb variants include splenic infarction and attendant autosplenectomy, stroke, bone infarcts and aseptic necrosis, leg ulcers, priapism, pulmonary hypertension, pyelonephritis, pulmonary infarction, pneumonia, acute chest syndrome, prematurity, and renal failure. The severity of the clinical manifestation varies greatly from patient to patient influencing the aggressiveness of treatment modification accordingly.[12],[13]
Fertility and pregnancy in women with sickle cell anemia are associated with increased infertility and fetal wastages.[14],[15] Megaloblastic anemia alongside chronic hemolysis associated with sickle cell anemia is responsible for chronic jaundice, a major clinical manifestation. In pregnancy, increased demand for folate for fetal growth tips the patient to more severe forms of anemia.[16] However, folic acid supplement has aided to preserve the fetus from developing central nervous system complications, e.g., spina bifida. The birth weights of infants of mothers with sickle cell anemia are generally below average.[17],[18]
The cause of neonatal death is obscure, but it may sometimes result from vaso-occlusion of the placenta;[17] and the postmortem findings are those of intrapartum anoxia.[19] The maternal mortality in sickle cell disease was prohibitively high, with rates that averaged 33%, lowered to about 1.5% in various series.[19],[20],[21]
In Nigeria, most published reports on ABO and Rh D blood groups and Hb variants are centered on the outcome of pregnancies associated with this inherited condition. Published studies in Nigeria were largely carried out among the Yoruba ethnic community in the South Western part.[22] There is a paucity of data on this subject in Yola, North-East of Nigeria. This study was carried out to generate and provide data on the frequency of ABO and Rh D blood groups and Hb genotypes among antenatal care patients in our setting.
| Materials and Methods | | |
Registers and results of all Hb phenotypes investigations carried out in the Department of Hematology, Federal Medical Centre, Yola, North-Eastern Nigeria, between March, 2010 and December, 2012 were extracted, reviewed and analyzed retrospectively using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) (IBM SPSS, version 20, California, USA) software after obtaining ethical approval from the Ethical research Committee of the Federal Medical Centre, Yola, Nigeria.
Study Population
The studied population of all pregnant women sequentially booked in antenatal care clinic of the Federal Medical Centre, Yola, between March 2010 and December 2012 were reviewed for possible inclusion into the study.
Sample Size
This retrospective study used a statistical power called post hoc power rather than the calculation of sample size.[23] At 5% significance difference and 80% power, the actual difference observed with a previous study, Babadoko et al.[24] was 2553 however, only 2226 women record conformed to the criteria for inclusion in this study.
Inclusions and Exclusions
Only pregnant women tested for ABO, Rh D, and Hb phenotypes were included in the study. Pregnant women with incomplete data entry were excluded.
Data Presentation and Statistical Analysis
Frequency distribution and prevalence of the various parameters were determined. Differences in proportions were determined by Chi-square tests using the SPSS software. A two-sided P < 0.05 at 95% confidence interval was considered statistically significant for the variables.
| Results | | |
A total of 2226 (n = 2226) records of women attending antenatal care was obtained and analyzed. The frequencies of all the ABO and Rh D blood groups are shown in [Table 1]. The most and least prevalent blood groups were blood group O and AB, 47.7% and 3.5%, respectively. Rh D + and Rh D − were recorded in 97.1% and 2.9% of studied subjects, respectively. The frequencies of Rh D groups among the four ABO groups are shown in [Table 2]. Rh D − was recorded most in group O (1.7%) and least (0.1%) AB. | Table 1: Frequencies of ABO and Rh D blood groups of women attending antenatal care in Federal Medical Centre, Yola, between March, 2010 and December, 2012 (n=2226)
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 | Table 2: Rh D distribution among the ABO blood groups of women attending antenatal care in Federal Medical Centre, Yola, between March, 2010 and December, 2012
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The most predominant Hb phenotype in this study was AA (81.9%) [Table 3]. The Hb homozygous HbCC variant was not encountered in this study. There were significant differences in the occurrence of ABO blood groups and Hb phenotypes in the studied antenatal care subjects (P < 0.05) [Table 3]. | Table 3: Frequencies of hemoglobin phenotypes of women attending antenatal care in Federal Medical Centre, Yola, between March, 2010 and December, 2012 (n=table2226)
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| Discussion | | |
The study was carried out to provide information on the distribution of ABO, Rh blood groups, and Hb phenotypes in pregnant women in Yola, North-Eastern Nigeria. The prevalence of ABO blood groups reported in our study is in agreement with other studies from other parts of the country.[24] For instance, Jeremiah [22] reported 26.7% blood group A, 18.3% B, 2.2% AB, and 52.8% O in the South-South region of Nigeria and Uneke et al.[25] who documented similar ABO blood group distribution in South-Eastern Nigeria. In South Western Nigeria, Tamitayo and Timothy [26] found a similar pattern of ABO phenotypes in their work.
The values in our study vary widely from what obtained in other races. In the Western Europe, the prevalence of group A (42%) second to 46% group O.[27] Values obtained from South-Western Germany show group A accounting for the highest proportion of 43.26%, exceeding 41.2%, group O.[28]
High prevalence of group O among expectant mothers offers a window for mobilizing available blood for transfusion, especially in emergencies or when there is a shortage of blood in the blood bank.[26] There is, therefore, need to keep contacts of antigens typed antenatal care patients for possible recruitment for blood donation in times of acute need. Although the practice of transfusing blood group O to nongroup O recipients are discouraged, cautious and controlled routine test for hemolysins [29] as well as the preparation of washed red cells and components preparation would complement routine ABO and compatibility tests in preventing complications of blood transfusion.
The frequency of Rh D positive was 97.1%, and that of Rh D negative was 2.9% is in agreement with reports on Nigerian pregnant women and students' populations.[22],[26],[30],[31] The 2.9% Rh D negative women in the study stand the risk of developing anti-D antibodies, and this can result in both moderate and severe form of hemolytic disease of the newborn. However, inclusion of this test in antenatal care programs, especially for the primigravid mothers, followed by appropriate health education will aid in reducing the risk of the disease.[26] Although pregnant women are frequent recipients, the knowledge about the prevalence of ABO and Rh D could be used to organize predeposit blood donation to prevent maternal mortality from obstetric hemorrhage and prevent or monitor iso-immunization and hemolytic disease of the newborn.
The observed frequency of Hb AA and AS among our antenatal women, being significantly higher than other Hb variants is in concordance with other studies that reported the normal Hb (Hb AA) in the range of 55–75%.[32],[33]
The prevalence of the S phenotype in our study is similar to the prevalence of sickle cell trait (Hb AS) of 20–30% in Nigeria.[33],[34],[35] It is important to note that HbCC was not found in this studied population. However, our finding on Hb variants varies significantly from other reports. For instance, Tamitayo and Timothy [26] who reported 0.00% and 0.00% for Hb SS and Hb SC, respectively, and Erhabor et al.[36] report of 0.0% HbAC and 0.0% HbSC, knowledge of the blood groups and Hb phenotypes and genotypes are useful for medical diagnosis, genetic databases, genetic counseling, and control of common genetic diseases.[37]
| Conclusion and Recommendation | | |
Information about the prevalence of blood antigens could be used to organize predeposit blood donation to prepare for obstetric hemorrhage and monitor iso-immunization and hemolytic disease of the newborn. The striking prevalence of HbSS and HbSC traits in the studied population warrants for the coverage of wider population to obtain more detailed information which could assist in the formulation of genetic counseling policies.
Acknowledgment
We wish to acknowledge the Management of the Federal Medical Centre, Yola. Our profound appreciation goes to Mr. Ezekiel Chagwa, Mr. Babatunde Fatai, and Mr. Henry Badung for careful preserving clients' data used in this work.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
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[Table 1], [Table 2], [Table 3]
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