Frequency of various rare blood group antigens, ABO, Rhesus Blood grouping and its Relations to occurrence of stillbirth, Miscarriage and transfusion status among Pregnant Women in University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria

Human red blood cells contain on their surface a series of glycoproteins and glycolipids which constitute the blood group antigens, which are also related to many clinical problems associated with transfusion reactions (Sachin, Anjalee, Khemial and Avinash, 2017). This study is aimed at assessing and providing information on the haemolysin test, frequency of various rare blood group antigens, ABO, Rhesus blood grouping and its Relations to occurrence of stillbirth, Miscarriage and transfusion status among pregnant women attending Antenatal Clinic in University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar Nigeria.

A descriptive retrospective cross-sectional study comprising of 400 pregnant women, aged 16 – 45 years and who gave their informed consent was used. ABO and Rhesus blood groups were analysed using commercially prepared reagent. ABO, Kell, Kidd, Duffy, Lewis, MNS and P blood groups were analysed using commercially prepared reagent.

Most of the pregnant women were aged 16 – 36 years and no underweight pregnant women were recorded in this study. The prevalence of ABO blood group among the pregnant women showed the decreasing order of O>A>B>AB. It was observed that blood group O appeared about 3 times the prevalent of each group. The prevalence of Rhesus positive and Negative was 95% and 5% respectively. The distribution of Kell and Kidd positive blood group was 1% respectively, while Duffy positive blood group was 3%. This current work recorded a pattern where Kell and Kidd positive subjects belong to blood group A of the ABO system. Lewis, MNS and P blood groups recorded 0% prevalence respectively. 5.5% of stillbirth was recorded while miscarriage had a prevalence of 17%. Approximately 5% of the pregnant women received blood transfusion. Rhesus blood group was found to be associated with still-birth (P=0.004).

ABO blood group distribution was in the order O>A>B>AB 63%, 20%, 14% and 3.0%. On the other hand, the study shows the prevalence of Rhesus D" positive and Rhesus D" negative to be 95% and 5% respectively. Blood group "O" and rhesus positive blood group were predominant in stillbirth, miscarriages and transfusion status. The Kell, Kidd and Duffy blood groups were recorded in the proportion of 1%, 1% and 3%, respectively, . It is recommended that phenotyping for all clinically significant red cell antigens as well as Kell, Duffy, Kidd etc antigens be carried out routinely among all pregnant women.

Authors have no conflict of interest