Emphasizing the link between blood types in multi-ethnic disparities and COVID-19 infection in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the impact and distribution of blood groups in different ethnicities and the extent of susceptibility to infection with COVID-19 in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on 4,609 COVID-19 patients from five ethnic groups to assess the impact and distribution of different blood types and susceptibility to COVID-19 infection. The study was carried out between November 2020 and June 2021 in the College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University in collaboration with the General Directorate of Health Affairs, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. RESULTS: Blood group (A, B, and O) distributions in 2,617 COVID-19 patients with local control populations was done. Our study found that in both Saudi and non-Saudi populations, blood groups O and A were associated with higher infection rates, whereas blood group AB was associated with lower infection rates (p=0.0001). COVID-19 seems to be associated with blood groups A, B, and AB (RR=3.23, 95% CI=2.702-3.821, p=0.0001). COVID-19 risk was lower in people with O blood group (RR=0.783, 95% CI=0.733-0.836, p=0.0001). South Asians had higher odds of COVID-19 infection when compared to Saudi cases and other ethnic groups (OR=1.12, 95 % CI: 1.074-1.24, p=0.04). CONCLUSION: We emphasize that COVID-19 infection is not proportional among ethnically related blood groups. Notably, RhD-negative protect against COVID-19, whereas A and O blood types are more susceptible. Thus, when assessing COVID-19 prognosis and vaccination priority, blood groups A and O are critical.

IgA nephropathy: Missed diagnosis and renal transplant.

The most common form of chronic glomerulonephritis worldwide is IgA nephropathy (IgAN) where IgA immune complexes are deposited in the glomeruli. About 40%-45% of patients with IgAN present with macroscopic hematuria. Diagnosis occurs through kidney biopsy to visualize IgA deposition in the glomerular mesangial area using immunofluorescence microscopy. We presented a 21-year-old patient referred to the nephrology department for follow-up after renal transplantation. His condition started at the age of nine-year with macroscopic hematuria. At the age of 14 years, he presented with hematuria and serum creatinine of 62 umol/L and was diagnosed with acute cystitis. At the age of 18 years, the patient was admitted with generalized fatigue, muscle cramps, and gross hematuria. Kidney biopsy showed advanced glomerulosclerorosis and IgAN with mesangial hypercellularity. The patient was started on peritoneal dialysis for four months following which he underwent kidney transplant from a nonrelative living donor.