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International Journal of Biological & Medical Research

Int J Biol Med Res. 2014; 5(2):3988-3990

Blood Group Distribution of ABO Antigens and Rhesus Blood Group System in the

Macedonian and Albanian Population in the Republic of Macedonia

Marko Kostovski*, Tatjana Makarovska-Bojadzieva, Milenka Blagoevska

National Institute of Transfusion Medicine, 50 Divizija bb, University “Ss. Cyril and Methodius”, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia

A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T

Keywords:

ABODistributionRepublic of MacedoniaRhesus factorBlood groups

Original Article

Background: A big variety in blood group distribution can be seen in some geographic regions, as well as, in some ethnic and socio-economic groups. Blood groups are, in fact, defined as surface antigens on the erythrocyte cell membrane, and the distribution of the blood groups varies in different regions of the world. Aim: The aim of our study was to investigate blood group distribution (ABO,RhD) in major ethnic groups in the Republic of Macedonia (Macedonian and Albanian population). Materials and methods: A database with total number of 1547 patients were studied. Their blood group (ABO, RhD) was traced using standardized immunohaematological procedure (gel cards technique). Results: The results from our investigation showed that Macedonians and Albanians did not differ very much. Frequency distribution of each blood group within these two populations did not differ significantly between blood groups O, A and B. The difference in the distribution of AB blood group between Macedonians and Albanians was statistically significant (t=2.5163, p=0.01174, p<0.05). The difference in the distribution of RhD positive and RhD negative between Macedonians and Albanians was not statistically significant (t=-0,6034, p=0,5485, P>0,05). The difference in the distribution was found to be statistically significant between Macedonians and Albanians only in the AB(+) blood group (t=-2,5156, p=0,01174, p<0,05). Conclusion: The only significant difference was found in the distribution of AB blood group (more precisely AB negative), which, in general, is more frequent in Albanian population.

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1. Introduction

Copyright 2010 BioMedSciDirect Publications IJBMR - All rights reserved.ISSN: 0976:6685.c

Since the beginning of the 20th century, the erythrocyte 1antigens have been thoroughly investigated and well defined.

There are many studies in the world discussing blood group

frequencies, distribution, genetic polymorphism in a nation, a

country, a continent, an ethnic group, etc. One person's blood group

is identified based on the presence of a specific cluster of antigens

on their erythrocyte cell membrane. Blood groups are, in fact,

defined as surface antigens on the erythrocyte cell membrane, and

the distribution of the blood groups varies in different regions of the 2world. An individual's blood group is defined based on the antigen

class they have. The ABO and the Rhesus systems are clinically the

most important blood groups in transfusion medicine, and 3medicine in general. If incompatible groups are used (the ABO

blood group system) during blood transfusion, it can lead to

patients' death, which represents one of the commonest causes of 4death associated with transfusion. Similarly, this kind of

incompatibility with Rh blood group system (RhD) can be seen as a 5cause of hemolytic disease of a newborn. There is a wide variety in

6the blood group distribution in some geographic regions , as well 7as, in some ethnic and socio-economic groups. Numerous studies

investigate the associations among the ABO blood group system

and many diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, some cancer types, 8,9,10etc . The investigation of blood groups, their phenotypic

diversity and biological significance are of great interest in the

domain of human genetics and medical science. The aim of our

study was to investigate the blood group distribution (ABO, RhD)

in the major ethnic groups in the Republic of Macedonia (the

Macedonian and the Albanian population). The Macedonian

population makes up 64,1455%, while the Albanian makes up

25,1703% of the population in the Republic of Macedonia.

* Corresponding Author : Marko Kostovski

Department, Institution: National Institute of Transfusion MedicineMail Address, City, ZIPcode: Vodnjanska 17, Skopje, 1000State, Country: Republic of MacedoniaPhone number, Fax number: 00389 72 400 180Email address: kostovski2@yahoo.com

Copyright 2010 BioMedSciDirect Publications. All rights reserved.c

International Journal ofBIOLOGICAL AND MEDICAL RESEARCH

www.biomedscidirect.comInt J Biol Med Res

Marko Kostovski et.al Int J Biol Med Res. 2014; 5(2): 3988-3990

3989

Matherials and methods

Results

A database with a total number of 1547 patients was studied.

Their blood groups (ABO, RhD) were traced using a standardized

immunohematological procedure (gel cards technique). Based on

the ethnical group, subjects were divided into two major groups

(Macedonians 71.11%, Albanians - 28.89%). The distribution of

their blood group (O+, O-, A+, A-, B+, B-, AB+, AB-, RhD+, RhD-) was

calculated separately for each ethnic group. Student t-test was used

to indicate significant differences in blood group distribution

between Macedonian and Albanian population.

A total number of 1547 subjects: 695 male and 852 female, were

included in the study. 1100 of them were Macedonians (476 males,

624 females) and 447 were Albanians (219 males, 228 females)

respectively.

Table 1 shows the gender distribution between the

Macedonians and the Albanians in this study.

Table 2. Distribution of ABO blood group system between the

Macedonians and the Albanians

Table 3. Frequency distribution of Rhesus system between the

Macedonians and the AlbaniansDiscussion

Macedonians

N (1100)%

Albaninas

N (447)

%

Macedonians

N (1100)%

Albaninas

N (447)

%

Macedonians

N (1100)%

Albaninas

N (447)

%

*T-test (t=2.5163, p=0.01174, p<0.05)

476

43,27

219

48,99

359

32,63

146

32,66

970

88,18

130

89,26

399

11,8

48

10,74

624

56,73

228

51,01

479

43,54

174

38,92

1100

100

447

100

178

16,18

75

16,78

84

7,64*

52

11,63*

Nationality

Nationality

Nationality

Males

O

Rhesus positive (RhD+)

Rhesus negative (RhD-)

Females

A

Total

B AB

Gender

Blood groups

Rhesus system

Table 4. Frequency distribution of ABO and Rhesus factor blood

groups between the Macedonians and the Albanians

The results of the ABO blood group system distribution

between the Macedonians and the Albanians are shown in table 2.

Our investigation about the frequencies of the ABO blood

groups in the Macedonian population gave the following results:

A>O>B>AB. The highest frequency was noted in the blood group A

(43.54%), and the lowest in the blood group AB (7,64%).

The frequency of the ABO blood groups in the Albanian

population are the following: A>O>B>AB. The highest frequency

was noted in the blood group A (38.92%), and the lowest in the

blood group AB (11,63%).

The results of Rhesus blood group system distribution between

the Macedonian and the Albanians are shown in table 3.

Our investigation about the frequencies of the Rhesus factor in

the Macedonian population gave the following results:

RhD(+)>RhD(-) with 88,18% and 11,18%, respectively. The

distribution frequencies of the Rhesus factor in the Albanian

population gave the following results: RhD(+)>RhD(-) with

89,26%% and 10,74%, respectively.

The results of ABO blood group and Rhesus blood group system

distribution between the Macedonian and the Albanians are shown

in table 4.

The analysis of the frequency distribution of the ABO blood

group and the Rhesus factor D between the Macedonian and the

Albanian populat ion showed the fol lowing results :

A ( + ) > O ( + ) > B ( + ) > A B ( + ) > A ( - ) > O ( - ) > B ( - ) > A B ( - ) a n d

A(+)>O(+)>B(+)>AB(+)>A(-)>O(-)> AB(-)>B(-), respectively.

There are many studies worldwide investigating blood group

distribution in a specific region of their countries or parts of

countries, continents, specific group of people etc. The significance

of such studies is very important for transfusion medicine,

anthropology, genetics, general medicine, blood banks, blood

donations in emergencies, clinical investigations, population

studies, health care.11,12 The results from our investigation

showed that there is not a significant difference between the

Macedonians

N (1100)

%

Albaninas

N (447)

%

O (+)

323

29,36

129

28,85

O (-)

36

3,27

17

3,80

A (+)

423

38,45

154

34,45

A (-)

56

5,09

20

4,47

B (+)

152

13,08

70

15,66

B (-)

26

2,36

5

0,45

AB (+)

72

6,54*

46

10,29*

O (+)

12

1,09

6

1,34

Nationality

*T-test (t=-2.5156, p=0.01174, p<0.05)

Blood groups

3990

Macedonians and the Albanians. The most frequent blood type

(ABO blood group system) among the Macedonians and the

Albanians was the same, with the highest frequency of the blood

group A, followed by the blood group O, then the blood group B and

at the end the blood group AB. The frequency distribution of each

blood group within these two populations did not differ

significantly between the blood groups O, A and B. The difference in

the distribution of the AB blood group between the Macedonians

and the Albanians was statistically significant (t=2.5163,

p=0.01174, p<0.05). Thus, the Albanian people in the Republic of

Macedonia have statistically significant higher number of

frequency of the AB blood group. Efremovska Lj et al. have come to

results that indicate, more or less, relatively small genetic distances

between the examined populations in their study (Macedonians,

Albanians, Aromaninans Roma population).13 The biggest

difference in the blood groups between the Macedonians and the

Albanians was in the phenotype. The study of Makarovska-

Bojadzieva T et al, shows quite similar results about the frequency

distribution of the ABO blood group system in the Macedonian

population. Their results are: A (39,7%), B (14,1%), O (38%), AB

(7,4%), which can be simplified as: A>O>B>AB, which is quite

consistent with our results.14

The Rhesus system (RhD) analysis did not show statistically

significant difference between these two populations. The

difference in the distribution of RhD positive and RhD negative

between the Macedonians and the Albanians was not statistically

significant (t=-0,6034, p=0,5485, P>0,05). The comparison with the

distribution of the blood groups with the general Bulgarian

population showed quite similar results.15 This high percentage of

RhD positive antigen is also in agreement with the results from a

study which was taken in Gaza-Strip.16,17

The frequency distribution of the ABO blood group system and

the Rhesus blood group system (RhesusD) between the

Macedonian and the Albanian population has not shown any

particular differences. The results showed the highest frequency of

the blood group A (+) in both populations with 38,45% and 34,45%,

respectively. The lowest distribution of the blood group in the

Macedonian and the Albanian population differed compared with

the highest one, which was the same. The blood group AB (-)-

(1,09%) was the least frequent in the Macedonian population, while

the blood group B (-) - (0,45%) was noted as the least frequent in the

Albanian population. The difference in the distribution was found to

be statistically significant between the Macedonians and the

Albanians only in the AB(+) blood group (t=-2,5156, p=0,01174,

p<0,05). Thus, the AB (+) blood group is significantly more frequent

in the Albanian population in the Republic of Macedonia.

Such studies have high-value in because understanding the

distribution of different blood group systems in specific regions of a

country or region is important for blood banks, blood donations,

clinical studies, but, also very important for investigation of a

population group.3,18

Conclusion

From our investigation we can conclude that the frequency

distribution of the ABO blood group system and the Rhesus system

(Rhesus factor D) were quite similar between the Macedonian and

the Albanian population in the Republic of Macedonia. However, the

only significant difference was found in the distribution of the AB

blood group, which, in general, is more frequent in the Albanian

population. More precisely, the AB positive blood group has a higher

frequency distribution among the Albanians.

Refferences

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[2] Dean L. Blood Groups and Red Cell Antigens [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Center for Biotechnology Information (US); 2005. Chapter 5, T h e A B O b l o o d g r o u p . A v a i l a b l e f r o m http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2267/

[3] Sigmon JM. Basic principles of the ABO and Rh blood group systems for hemapheresis practitioners. J Clin Apher 1992;7(3):158-62

[4] Sarhan MA, Saleh KA, Bin-Dajem SM. Distribution of ABO blood groups and Rhesus factor in Southwest Saudi Arabia. Saudi Med J 2009;30(1):116-119

[5] Luckey CJ, Silberstein LS. A mouse model of hemolytic disease of the newborn. Blood 2013;122(8):1334-1335

[6] Beardmore JA, Karimi-Booshehri F. ABO genes are diferentially distributed in socio-economic groups in England. Nature 1983;303(5917):522-4

[7] Mascie-Taylor CG, Lasker GW. Further note on possible changes in the geographic distribution of ABO and RH blood groups in Great Britain. Hum Biol 1996;68(3):473-8

[8] Koley S. The Distribution of the ABO Blood Types in Patients with Diabetes Melitus. Anthropologist 2008;10(2):129-132

[9] Lu Qi, Cornelis MC, Kraft P et al. Genetic variants in ABO blood group region, plasma soluble E-selectin levels and risk of type 2 diabetes. Hum Mol Genet 2010;19(9):1856-1862

[10] Greer JB, Yazer MH, Raval JS et al. Significant association between ABO blood group and pancreatic cancer. World J Gastroenterol 2010;16(44):5588-91

[11] Eweidan MH, Rahiman S, Hassan Ali MDet al. Distribution of ABO and Rhesus (RHD) Blood Groups in Al-Jouf Province of the Saudi Arabia. Anthropologist 2011;13(2):99-102

[12] Al-Himaidi AR, Umar M. ABO blood group distribution among Saudi citizens related to their regional or original tribal location. Kuwait J Sci Eng 2002;29(1):75-81

[13] Efremovska LJ, Schmidt HD, Scheil HG et al. Genetic polymorphism of blood groups and erythrocytes enzymes in population groups of the Republic of Macedonia. Prilozi 2007;28(2):47-59

[14] Makarovska Bojadzieva T, Blagoevska M, Kolevski P et al. Optimal blood grouping and antibody screening for safe transfusion. Prilozi 2009;30(1):119-28

[15] Todorov V, Minkov C, Paraskowa N et al. Blood-group characteristics of the contemporary Bulgarian population from Middle Mizia. Glasnik ADS 2012:47:317-321

[16] El-Wahhab Skaik YA, Alhawary AS, Shbair AS, Hamouda BB. Frequency of ABO and Rh(D) blood groups in five governorates in Gaza-Strip. Pak J Med Sci 2007;23(6):924-927

[17] Manoharan S. Distribution of ABO Blood Groups and Rhesus FactorAmong Malay, Chinese, Indian and Other races Students in Asia Metropolitan University, Malaysia. In J Biol Med Res 2013;4(2):3028-3031

[18] Bashwari LA, Al-Mulhim AA, Ahmad MS, Ahmed MA. Frequency of ABO blood groups in the Eastern region of Saudi Arabaia. Saudi Med J 2001;22(11):1008-1012

Copyright 2010 BioMedSciDirect Publications IJBMR - All rights reserved.

ISSN: 0976:6685.c

Marko Kostovski et.al Int J Biol Med Res. 2014; 5(2): 3988-3990