Correlation between ABO/Rhesus Blood Group and a Sickle Cell Disease among Sicklers at the Sickle Cell Center, Alkuwity Teaching Hospital, Elobeid City, North Kordofan Estate, West of Sudan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Aims: Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a genetic blood disorder affecting red blood cells, with high morbidity and mortality rates. Many attempts being made to determine the relationship between blood antigens, Hemoglobin (Hb) genotypes.

Objective: The study was carried out to determine any potential correlation between ABO/Rhesus D Blood Groups and SCD and SCD and to provide data on the distribution of ABO/Rhesus D Blood Groups among Sicklers attending the Sickle Cell Center, Alkuwity Teaching Hospital, Elobeid City, North Kordofan Estate, and West of Sudan.

Materials and Methods: A total of 230 Sicklers (Hemoglobin SS) patients, 111 males, 119 females were enrolled in the study after signing the written informed consent form, all the participants were interviewed by a questionnaire which contains their basic sociodemographic and medications uses. ABO/Rhesus blood typing was done by classic (Antigenantibody agglutination test).

Results: The ABO blood group distribution indicated that blood group O was the most prevalent (56.5%) among our subjects, followed by A (27%), B (13%), and AB (3.5%). O was the predominant blood group followed by group A, B and AB (p=0.001). A significant number of subjects were Rhesus D positive (89.1%) compared to 10.9% who were Rhesus D negative (p=0.001). Blood group O^+ve is the dominant blood group. There was a correlation between ABO/Rhesus blood group and sickle cell disease (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The results from this study also show that blood group O^+ve is the predominant blood group in the Sickle Cell Center, Alkuwity Teaching Hospital, Elobeid City, North Kordofan Estate, and West of Sudan. Evidenced based data obtained from this study will facilitate optimal stocking of blood and blood products in blood banks in the area and the management of Hemolytic Transfusion.