ABO blood group and placental Plasmodium infection in parturient Kenyan women.

Mulder, E. (Eva) (2013) ABO blood group and placental Plasmodium infection in parturient Kenyan women. thesis, Medicine.

Text MulderEG.pdf Restricted to Registered users only Download (1MB)

Abstract

Background: Despite pre-existing immunity, pregnant women and especially primiparae are susceptible to Plasmodium infection. The parasites are able to sequester in the placenta and this has potential negative effects on maternal and neonatal outcome. Maternal anemia and low birth weight of the neonate contribute to high morbidity and mortality rates in malaria endemic areas. Epidemiologic studies in non-pregnant individuals suggest protection against severe malaria conferred by blood group O. Direct evidence for an association between blood group O and placental Plasmodium is scarce and inconclusive. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the association between maternal ABO blood group phenotype and placental Plasmodium infection in a highly endemic area, taking parity into account. Secondly, we aimed to assess relationship between blood group O versus non-O blood groups and neonatal birth weight. Methods: Data from an ongoing study in Kenya were used. In 354 parturient women, we assessed ABO blood group phenotype, placental Plasmodium infection (defined by a positive test result for either placental blood antigen test or histology) and neonatal birth weight. Results: The ABO blood group distribution was O: 159 (45%); A: 100 (28%); B: 80 (23%) and AB: 15 women (4%). Plasmodium infection was found in 58 of 354 placentas (16%). The odds ratio for placental Plasmodium infection in blood group O was 1.28 (95% CI 0.73−2.24) compared to the non-O blood groups. Similar odds ratios were found after stratification for parity. The birth weight among children born to mothers with blood group O was 3,120g compared to 3,122g for children born to women of the non-O blood groups. Conclusion: There was no evidence that blood group O was associated with placental Plasmodium infection, whether or not parity was taking into account, or that blood group O was associated with neonatal birth weight.

Item Type:	Thesis (Thesis)
Supervisor name:	Rheenen, Dr. P.F. van
Supervisor name:	Verhoef, Dr. H. and Ndegwa Mwangi, Mr. M. and Wageningen University
Faculty:	Medical Sciences
Date Deposited:	25 Jun 2020 10:52
Last Modified:	25 Jun 2020 10:52
URI:	https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/1336

Actions (login required)

View Item