AB Blood Group Confers Higher Risk for Primary Brain Tumors in Pediatrics

• Main Authors: Al Shudifat A, Al Suqi H, Soub K, Al Nemrawi L, Abu Jaber M, Al Barbarawi M, Shewaikani N, El Adwan Y, Al Refaei A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2021-09-01
• Series: Risk Management and Healthcare Policy
• Subjects: pediatrics; children; brain tumors; abo blood groups.
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/ab-blood-group-confers-higher-risk-for-primary-brain-tumors-in-pediatr-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-RMHP

Abdulrahman Al Shudifat,1 Hala Al Suqi,2 Kutada Soub,1 Leen Al Nemrawi,2 Moa’tasem Abu Jaber,2 Mohammad Al Barbarawi,3 Nour Shewaikani,2 Yazan El Adwan,4 Assem Al Refaei2 1Department of Neurosurgery, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan; 2School of Medicine, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan; 3Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 4Jordan Hospital, Amman, JordanCorrespondence: Assem Al Refaei Jubaiha, Amman, 11942, JordanTel [phone]Email [e-mail]: Our current study investigates the relationship between ABO blood groups and brain tumor incidence in the Jordanian pediatric population in a case-controlled manner.Patients and Methods: This case-control study targeted pediatric primary brain tumor patients and tumor-free controls. Cases included patients younger than 18 when given a histologically confirmed diagnosis with a primary brain tumor, ascertained from two tertiary hospitals in Jordan. Controls were age- and gender-matched to cases and acquired from JUH pediatric clinics, with an exclusion for all patients with a personal history of tumors. Through using available records and calling guardians, our team obtained patients’ and controls’ blood groups.Results: Our case control included 81 (35.4%) pediatric primary brain tumor patients and age- and gender-matched tumor-free controls 148 (64.6%). When compared to O blood group, patients with A and B blood groups were not at higher risk of developing pediatric primary brain tumors (P=0.742, P=1.000, respectively). However, Chi-square analysis revealed a 2.79-fold higher risk for pediatric primary brain tumors in AB blood group patients (P=0.024). Gender-specific analysis revealed a 3.42-fold higher risk for pediatric brain tumors in AB blood group males when compared to O blood group males.Conclusion: This work represents the first published study on the association between blood groups and pediatric brain tumors. With future research with larger samples and control of confounding factors, AB blood group may become a more established risk factor for pediatric brain tumors, aiding in screening.Keywords: pediatrics, children, brain tumors, ABO blood groups