 |
dadamowiki A wikipedia of Dr. D'Adamo's research |
Disease and ABO blood groups
See AlsoAbstract
A review of the literature associates the ABO blood groups with a wide assortment of pathologic conditions, especially gastrointestinal and cardiovascular pathology.
Key Words
ABO blood groups, ABH antigen system, achlorhydria, carcinoma peptic ulcer, gastric carcinoma, ischemic heart disease, serum cholesterol alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes, toxemia, plasma factor VIII levels
Historical Survey
Alexander ( {{Alexander, W: Br. J. Exp. Path 2,66:(1921) }} ) was probably the first researcher to correlate the blood groups to any type of pathology, giving the following frequencies for fifty patients suffering from various types of carcinoma : 0: 14, A:14, B:16, AB:6 contrasting these with 175 results from 50 normals, 50 tuberculars, 50 syphilis and 25 tetany patients, concluding that groups B and AB were especially prone to cancer; a conclusion echoed by later workers Mithra.( {{Mithra, P.N. : Ind. J. Med. Res. 20:995-1004 (Apr 1933)}} ) in 1933 and Pautienis ( {{Pautienis, P.N.: Medicina Kaunas 18 1-12 (Jan 1937)}} ) in 1937 who both noticed a greater propensity of groups A and AB to develop cancer.
Mayo and Ferguson ( {{Mayo and Ferguson : AMA Arch. Surg. 66: 406-9}} ) summarizing the available literature were led to conclude that the most common finding amongst the investigators seemed to be that group AB is elevated in cancer populations. A corroborative finding with trophoblastic neoplasia ( {{Bagshawe et al : Lancet 1:555 (1971)}} ) links group AB to rapidly progressing choriocarcinomas which are highly resistant to treatment, the highest incidence associated with gravida of group A partnered to group O mates.
Stimulated by Alexander's paper, Buchanan and Higley ( {{Buchanan and Higley : Br. J. Exp. Path. (1921) 2;227}} ) analyzed the results of 2446 patients grouped at the Mayo clinic.
| Disease | O | A | B | AB |
| Carcinoma | 140 | 119 | 22 | 11 |
| Pernicious anemia | 189 | 202 | 46 | 20 |
| Leukemia | 35 | 22 | 16 | 1 |
| Thyroid | 23 | 12 | 2 | 0 |
| Fibroid Uterus | 54 | 64 | 13 | 6 |
| Ulcers | 102 | 55 | 8 | 7 |
| Gallbladder | 95 | 62 | 13 | 6 |
| Jaundice | 64 | 83 | 20 | 6 |
Looking at the percentage frequencies for the groups, they concluded that:
1. There is no relationship between blood type and any malignancy as suggested by Alexander.
2. There is no relationship between the blood groups and any disease in which there is sufficient data to justify a conclusion.
3. Nationality should be taken into account in the presentation of statistical studies on blood groups.
However, as Fraser Roberts illustrated in his critique ( {{Fraser Roberts, J.A.: Br. J. Prev. Soc. Med. 11:107-25 (1957)}} ) by being exceedingly conscious of racial difference between the blood types the evidence requiring heterogeneity is considerably weakened. Nevertheless, it was a shame that after looking at the figures that they did not conclude that group O was in excess with ulcers and group A with pernicious anemia. Had they done so others would have immediately made further studies on these diseases and two associations would have been discovered. Unfortunately their report served to sidetrack interest in the blood groups for a considerable period of time.
The remaining literature on carcinoma encompasses the significant through enigmatic. A number of studies were done on various cancers, with leukemia ( {{Tinney and Watson: (1941) as quoted by Buckwalter, JAMA 1 1212 (1956)}} , carcinoma of the bronchus ( {{Buckwalter et al : JAMA 11 792-5 (1954)}} , {{Aird, Bentall and Fraser Roberts : Br. Med J. 1:632 (1954)}} , {{McConnell and Clarke : Br. J. Med. 323-26 (1954)}} ),and rectal carcinoma ( {{Aird et al: Br. Med J. 812-4(1954)}} ) showing a no significant associations; breast cancer having a suggested association ( {{Buckwalter et al : as quoted in Fraser Roberts: Br. J. Prev. Soc. Med 11:10
|