Does Blood Group Type Predispose to Allergic Rhinitis? An Observational Study and Literature Review

Objective: There have been attempts to evaluate the relationship between atopic diseases like asthma and blood group types based on a genetic component associated with atopic diseases. The present study aims to determine if there is any relation between ABO and Rhesus (Rh) blood group and allergic rhinitis (AR).

Methods: The distribution of blood groups in 131 AR patients and 131 controls (study controls) was analyzed. Blood group distribution from an analysis of 112 studies from India, comprising of data from 1 429 996 donors (population controls), was compared to the cases (AR patients) in our study as well. A literature review was performed to better understand the correlation.

Results: The most common blood group among patients with AR was B+ve. In both control groups, O+ve and B+ve were the most detected. The differences in ABO distribution between the patients and either of the control groups were not statistically significant. Rhesus-negative blood types were significantly higher in AR patients compared to study controls (P=.003) and the population control group (P=.03).

Conclusion: The ABO blood type does not appear to influence the prevalence of AR in our study population. While some studies found no association, others have suggested a link between blood group O and susceptibility to atopic diseases. Rhesus-positive blood types in our study were found to be at higher risk for AR, but no other studies support these findings. Factors such as varying incidence, access to healthcare, and genetic interactions may contribute to the differing findings among studies.

Cite this article as: Sarmaik A, Ravinder Verma R, Sahoo S. Does blood group type predispose to allergic rhinitis? an observational study and literature review. Eur J Rhinol Allergy 2023;6(3):82-88.