Is there any relationship between expressions of minor blood group antigens with HTLV-I infection?

Background: The frequency of Human T lymphotropic Virus-1 (HTLV 1) is 2-3% in the general population and 0.7% in blood donors in northeast Iran. It is very important that we recognize the contributing factors in the pathogenesis of this virus. There are many reports that show that susceptibility to some infections is closely linked to the expression of certain blood group antigens. This study was performed to evaluate any association between minor blood group antigens and HTLV-I infection in northeast Iran.

Methods: In this case and control study major and minor blood group antigens were typed by commercial antibodies in 100 HTLV-I infected individuals and 332 healthy blood donors in Mashhad, Iran, from 2009-2010. Blood group antigens were determined by tube method less than 24h after blood collection. Finally, the results of HTLV-I positive subjects and control groups were compared by using SPSS software.

Results: The prevalence of Le(a), Le(b), P1, Fy(a), Fy(b), M, N, Jka, Jkb, K and k antigens in case group were 39.0%, 56.0%, 72.0%, 67.0%, 52.0%, 90.0%, 57.0%, 79.0%, 71.0%, 10.0%, 96.0%, respectively and the frequency of these blood group antigens in control group were 38.8%, 55.8%, 66.2%, 72.0%, 58.7%, 87.0%, 56.7%, 79.8%, 63.0%, 10.6%, 97.0%, respectively. We did not find any significant differences between the case and control group for frequency of minor blood group antigens.

Conclusion: Our study showed minor blood group antigens are not associated with an increased risk of HTLT-1 infection in northeast Iran.