ABO Blood Groups, Rhesus Factor, and Rheumatoid Arthritis

The ABO and Rhesus blood group systems play critical roles in clinical practice, particularly concerning their associations with autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study aimed to investigate the relationship between ABO blood types, Rh factors, and RA in a Georgian population. A total of 157 participants were included, comprising 93 RA patients and 64 healthy controls. Blood samples were analyzed for ABO and Rh D blood group determination, revealing that blood type O was the most prevalent among RA patients (50.5%), followed by type A (35.5%), while the control group exhibited similar distributions (O: 54.7%, A: 34.4%). The Rh factor analysis indicated a slightly higher prevalence of Rh-positive individuals in the RA group (84 patients) compared to Rh-negative individuals (9 patients). The overall distribution of blood types in RA patients closely mirrored that of the general population, indicating no significant link between ABO blood types and RA. Further research is warranted to explore these associations and their implications for RA pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets.