Publication:

Correlation of ABO blood group phenotype with atrophic rhinitis: an observational study

Background Atrophic rhinitis is very common in India. All etiological factors are yet unknown.  Many studies have been conducted to find the relationship between ABO blood group and various systemic diseases but limited number of studies has been conducted to determine the association of ABO blood group with atrophic rhinitis. The present study therefore was performed to see the association between atrophic rhinitis and ABO blood group.

Methods 100 patients of both genders clinically diagnosed with atrophic rhinitis were included in this study. Patients with nasal obstruction, nasal discharge and foul smelling from causes other than the atrophic rhinitis were excluded from the study.

Results Maximum number of cases 27 (27%) were between 21-30 years of age. The most common presenting symptom in our study was foul smell from nose in 100 cases (100%). Foetors, crusts and roomy nasal cavity were seen in majority of cases. Commonest organism identified in this study was Pseudomonas aeruginosa 37% followed by Klebsiella (31%). Out of 100 patients, 42 patients belonged to group O, 40 patients belonged to group B, 14 patients belonged to group A and only 4 patients belonged to group AB. Control population with blood group B comprises the maximum number of cases followed by blood group O. Percentage of patients with blood group O is higher in atrophic rhinitis as compared with control and the percentage of patients with blood group B is slightly higher in atrophic rhinitis as compared with control.

Conclusions Our study concluded that no correlation exists between the ABO blood group and atrophic rhinitis.