Association of secretors and non-secretors in ABO blood group with incidence of rheumatic fever in south Indian population: An observational study

Abstract

Background: The ABH secretors amongst blood groups are known to be associated with some bacterial infections. The prevalence of such secretors and association with incidence of rheumatic fever was studied in south Indian population. Aims/Objectives: To characterise the association of secretors and non-secretors in ABO Blood group with incidence of Rheumatic fever in south Indian population.Methodology: An observational study was conducted on 200 subjects, recruited by convenient sampling after meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The procedure involved collection venous blood and unstimulated whole saliva samples, determination of ABO and Rh blood groups (agglutination method), evaluation of the secretor status (Haemagglutination Inhibition Technique) and Antistreptolysin O titre levels. The descriptive statistics were reported as frequencies and percentages while inferential statistics by chi-square or ANOVA test as needed.(p