ABO & Rh (D) Phenotypes and Alleles in the Patients with Parkinson’s Disease among the North Indian Population

Aim: Recent studies have pointed the association of blood groups with cognitive impairment and dementia. This study was planned to find the frequencies of ABO, Rh (D) alleles and examine the effect of their phenotype in the patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) in north Indian population.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in the Department of Biochemistry with the association of Department of Neurosurgery, Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS), Banaras Hindu University (BHU), India for the period of September-2011 to August-2015.

Study Design: ABO and Rh alleles were determined in 240 patients with PD and 940 healthy individuals, which were selected as cases and controls respectively. Blood groups typing were done with rapid slide method. Allelic frequencies were calculated by using Hardy- Weinberg principle.

Results: Chi- Square (χ2) test was significant for the comparison of various ABO blood groups in between cases and controls (P < 0.001). According to Z-test of proportion, the frequencies of phenotype A, B and allele IA were not significantly altered in cases as compared to controls (P > 0.05). While, frequencies of phenotype AB and allele IB were significantly increased and frequency of phenotype O and allele IO were significantly decreased (all P < 0.01). The observed phenotypes of Rh (D) blood groups and frequencies of allele D and d were not significantly altered in cases when compared with controls (P > 0.05).

Conclusions: Study showed the increased frequencies of phenotypes B, AB and alleles IB along with decreased frequencies of phenotype O and allele IO among the patients with PD than normal population. It seems that the phenotypes AB and allele IB may have the risk against the development of Parkinson’s disease; while phenotype O and allele IO may have the protective action.