Submit Manuscript | http://medcraveonline.com Introduction Karl Landsteiner frst described the ABO blood group in 1900. 1 Blood grouping is based on antigenic property of red blood cells (RBC). The major h10uman blood group system is ABO. The blood group of a person depends upon the presence or absence of two genes A and B. The majority of ABO determinants are expressed on the ends of long polylactosamine chains. 2 The gene for ABO group is present on chromosome 9 and on chromosome 1 for Rh system. The ABO system consists of complex carbohydrate molecules. Ever since the discovery of blood groups in 1900, there have been efforts to discover a possible association between ABO and Rh blood groups and different diseases. 3 Certain diseases show strong association with the ABO blood groups, notably, peptic ulcer is much higher in blood group O 4 whereas stomach cancer, 5 tumors of salivary glands 6 are more frequent in blood group A individuals. Many reports have appeared in recent years suggesting an association between blood groups and diabetes mellitus. 7 The etiology of diabetes mellitus is complex and appears to involve interactions of genetic, immunological and environmental factors. 8 In fact, human chromosome 1q21-q23 showed well replicated linkage to type-2 diabetes mellitus. 9 J Diabetes Metab Disord Control. 2018;5(1):1‒7. 1 © 2018 Mandal et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially. Association of ABO blood groups with type-2 diabetes mellitus and its complications Volume 5 Issue 1 - 2018 Biplab Mandal, 1 Ravindra Shukla, 2 AK Basu, 3 Anirban Sinha, 3 Animesh Maiti, 3 Kingshuk Bhattacharjee 4 1 Department of Internal Medicine, Medical College, India 2 Department of Endocrinology, AIIMS, India 3 Department of Endocrinology, Medical College, India 4 Medical Services, Biocon LTD, India Correspondence: Biplab Mandal, Eden Tolly Lakeside, Block-F/1, Flat-3A, 319 M.G.Road, Kolkata-700104, India, Tel +91 943 425 5272, Email drbiplabmandal@gmail.com Received: July 17, 2017 | Published: January 22, 2018 Abstract Background: As type 2 DM has posed challenging and formidable problem globally lots of scientifc research work have been targeted and concepts are evolving every other day to unleash newer etiological factor in its causation and side by side risk factors so that proper aggressive strategy can be instituted to contain the disease at the very outset. Keeping these ideas in the back of our mind we embarked upon this small but compact path fnding study. Methodology: The study conducted in the Dept. of Endocrinology, Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata. Patients suffering from Type-2 DM (diagnosed by ADA criterion) atten- ding our diabetic clinic and diabetic patients admitted including the Dept. of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine were selected for this study. Study was conducted from March 2013 to December 2014. 276, Type-2 diabetic patients and 117 healthy control subjects among the relative of patients and volunteers were selected for this study to compare distribution of ABO blood groups. All the study subjects were selected by random sampling technique. ABO blood grouping (determined by using Tulip Diagnostic Kit). Screening of complica- tions done by appropriate clinical examinations and laboratory investigations. Results: Total 276 patients with type 2 DM were included in this study. Of those 276 diabe- tic patients 152(55%) were male and 124(45%) were female. 117 healthy control subjects among the relative of patients and volunteers were selected for this study to compare distri- bution of ABO blood groups. Mean age of diabetic patient was 50.46(±10.38) and non-dia- betic control subjects was 40.52(±12.21). Mean BMI was 24.18(±3.77) in diabetic subjects and was 25.40(±3.92) in control population. Chi- square statistical analysis among different blood groups between non-diabetic (n=111) and diabetic population (N=276) revealed no signifcant relationship of any blood group with type 2 DM (p˃0.05). But relative risk (RR) were calculated in reference to blood group O, it has been observed that slight increase of risk of developing type 2 DM among AB( RR 1.075), A(1.044) and B(1.033).With regards to distribution of patients (in number) with type 2 DM with different microvascular compli- cations, Nephropathy was the most common complication observed among different blood groups (37.2% in B, 36.6% in O, 36.5% in A and 34.5% in AB).Further exploring the asso- ciation between specifc blood groups in type 2 diabetes subjects and microvascular compli- cations, no signifcant association observed with type 2 DM and neuropathy, nephropathy and retinopathy (p˃0.05). However, taking blood group O as a reference group, Blood group AB (RR 0.583 and blood group A(RR0.698) were less likely to develop neuropathy compare to blood group O. However no difference in relative risk found for development of nephropathy and retinopathy. Conclusion: We found that person with O+ve blood group has least chance of developing Type 2 DM whereas subject with AB+ve blood group are more vulnerable to develop Type 2 DM. Therefore, the effects of blood groups should be investigated in future clinical and epidemiological studies on diabetes. Further pathophysiological research is also needed to determine why the individuals with blood type O have a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. No signifcant relationship with any microvascular complication of Type 2 DM and any blood group is observed. Blood group AB+ and A+ are less likely to develop neuropathy compare to O+. Keywords: type 2 diabetes, ABO blood groups, complications, association Journal of Diabetes, Metabolic Disorders & Control Research Article Open Access