Evaluation of the relation between urinary tract infection and ABO blood group antigens
Although acute urinary tract infections are common, the associated risk factors have not been defined prospectively. Bacterial adherence to carbohydrate receptors on the surface of urothelial cells is important in the pathogenesis of urinary tract infections. Blood group-related antigens, genetically determined carbohydrate found on the urothelial cell surface, may influence the availability of these receptors and affecting bacterial adherence and the susceptibility to urinary tract infections.
Present study determined the relation between the expressions of blood group related antigens and urinary tract infections.
Blood group phenotypes were examined in 285 patients with urinary tract infections. The UTI diagnosis was established on the basis of clinical history and laboratory tests.
The results showed UTI was most common in blood group O, which caused mostly by Ecoli, and after that blood group A but mostly by staphylococci. The most common cause of UTI in blood group B was Ecoli, but in blood Group AB was staphylococci.
So alteration in the pattern of the glycosylation of the blood group antigens are interesting because they become potential markers in the diagnostic and probably prognostic evaluation of UTI.