Abstract
The association between ABO blood groups and Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence is still controversial. We aimed to study the association between ABO/Rh antigens and IgG seropositivity in an Iranian adult population for the first time. Blood samples of 300 healthy young adults aging 18 -30 years were collected for H. pylori antibody detection and ABO/Rhesus blood group antigen typing. 51.2 %, 49.5 %, 52.5 % and 60.0 % of cases with blood groups O, A, B and AB were seropositive, respectively. The frequency of seropositivity was not statistically different among the four blood groups (P = 0.843). No association was found between seropositivity and either Rh antigen (P = 0.850) or gender (P = 0.377). Seropositive individuals were significantly older than seronegative ones (24.48 ± 3.72 years vs. 23.25 ± 3.88 years; P = 0.006). There was a sharp increase in the prevalence of seropositivity in the 21-24 year age group compared to the 18-21 year age group and in the 27-30 year age group compared to 24-27 year age group. Adults in Iran seem to be more prone to new H. pylori infection in the beginning and the end of their twenties than the years in between.
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