The ABO histo-blood group and AKI in critically ill patients with trauma or sepsis

Abstract

Background and objective ABO blood types are determined by antigen modifications on glycoproteins and glycolipids and associatedwith altered plasma levels of inflammatory and endothelial injury markers implicated in AKI pathogenesis. We sought to determine the association of ABO blood types with AKI risk in critically ill patients with trauma or sepsis. Design, setting, participants, & measurements We conducted two prospective cohort studies at an urban, academic, level I trauma center and tertiary referral center; 497 patients with trauma admitted to the surgical intensive care unit between 2005 and 2010 with an injury severity score > 15 and 759 patients with severe sepsis admitted to themedical intensive care unit between 2008 and 2013were followed for 6 days for the development of incident AKI. AKI was defined by Acute Kidney Injury Network creatinine and dialysis criteria. Results Of 497 patients with trauma, 134 developed AKI (27%). In multivariable analysis, blood type A was associatedwith higher AKI risk relative to typeOamong patients of European descent (n=229; adjusted risk, 0.28 versus 0.14; risk difference, 0.14; 95% confidence interval, 0.03 to 0.24; P=0.02). Of 759 patients with sepsis, AKI developed in 326 (43%). Blood type A again conferred higher AKI risk relative to type O among patients of European descent (n=437; adjusted risk, 0.53 versus 0.40; risk difference, 0.14; 95% confidence interval, 0.04 to 0.23; P=0.01). Findings were similar when analysis was restricted to those patients who did not develop acute respiratory distress syndrome or were not transfused.We did not detect a significant association between blood type and AKI risk among individuals of African descent in either cohort. Conclusions Blood typeAis independently associatedwithAKI risk in critically ill patientswith trauma or severe sepsis of European descent, suggesting a role for ABO glycans in AKI susceptibility.