Ethnic Variations of Blood Groups in a Medical College of Eastern Nepal

Abstract

Background Red blood cells contain antigens in its membrane which are inherited according to Mendelian law. ABO and Rhesus blood group systems are considered the most important blood group systems for clinical procedures, blood transfusion, organ transplantation, anthropological study and medico-legal purposes. Determination of ABO and Rhesus blood groups and its frequency distribution in a multiethnic country like Nepal is important for effective management of blood banks, safe blood transfusion services. The trend of blood groups and its ethnic distributions in the eastern part of Nepal is still unknown. Objective To find the distribution of blood groups among the subjects of different ethnic groups of eastern Nepal. Method A cross-sectional perspective study was carried out among the subjects visited in the laboratory of Nobel Medical College, Biratnagar, Nepal for a period of one year from August 1, 2015 to July 30, 2016. Result The 11,960 subjects were included in the present study, among which 5012 were males and 6948 were females. The study revealed that in ABO system, blood group distribution was 34.80% O, 28.66% A, 27.66% B and 6.89% AB. With regard to Rh blood group system, Rhesus +ve was 96.79% and Rhesus -ve was 3.21%. O blood group dominant ethnic groups were Brahmin, Bhujel, Biswakarma, Shah, Gurung, Marwari, Magar, Mahato, Mandal, Newar, Sanyasi, Tamang, Terai Brahmin and Yadav. Similarly, blood group A dominant ethnic groups were Chhetri, Dhimal, Limbu, Rai and Muslim. Howerver, blood group B was dominant in ethnic groups, namely Biswakarma, Rajput, Satar and Tharu. Conclusion The frequency distribution pattern of ABO blood group was observed as O > A> B > AB and in Rhesus system, Rhesus +ve > Rhesus -ve. Variation in blood groups distribution was observed in various ethnic groups.