Association between ABO, Rhesus blood group systems and haemoglobin genotype among confirmed HIVAIDS-TB co-infected patients in Enugu Urban, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The distribution of ABO, Rhesus blood group and haemoglobin (Hb) genotypes was investigated among 320 confirmed human immunodeficiency virus I & II (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) with tuberculosis (TB) co-infected patients. One Hundred and Sixty (160) healthy HIV I & II negative age and sex-matched population were used as controls for this study. Study design: Patients and controls were from the same environment and their blood groups and Hb genotypes were determined by the standard tube and electrophoresis methods respectively. Results: The statistical analysis of the results revealed statistically significant association (P<0.01) between Hb-genotype among female patients and female controls χ2 = 6.099, P<0.01, and also between patient and control groups of both sexes χ2 = 7.4561, p<0.01 only. Conclusion: We conclude that HIV I & II/AIDs with TB co-infection among Nigerians so far studied appear to show no association in the distribution of ABO, Rhesus blood group and Hb-genotype prevalence. Hence they cannot be said to have either protective nor predisposing characteristics.