Maternal ABO Blood Phenotype and Factors Associated with Preeclampsia Subtype

Abstract

Preeclampsia affects 3-8% of all pregnancies and is a global issue that significantly effects the short and long-term health of women and neonates. The pathophysiology of preeclampsia remains unclear and there seems to be two distinct subtypes, early and late onset. Each subtype may have a unique pathophysiology and set of risk factors. Preeclampsia is linked to long-term risk of cardiovascular disease in previously affected women. Subsequently, risk factors shared between preeclampsia and cardiovascular disease should be explored. The main aim of this study was to determine the strength of association between maternal ABO blood type and preeclampsia subtype. This hospital-based case control study was completed at one community hospital in the Mid Atlantic, United States. The study included 126 female subjects with early onset preeclampsia (≤ 33 6/7 weeks gestation), 126 female subjects with late onset preeclampsia (≥ 34 weeks gestation) and 259 control subjects with no history of preeclampsia. Strict diagnostic criteria were used and preeclamptic subjects were classified by subtype based on gestational age at diagnosis. Data on ABO blood type, as well other physical and socio-demographic variables were extracted from the electronic health record. No significant association was noted between preeclampsia subtype and non-O blood type (p=.456) and ABO blood phenotype trended towards significance (p=.062). After exclusion of subjects with comorbidities (CHTN, GDM and DM) from the sample (n=403), there was a significant association noted between ABO blood type and preeclampsia subtype (p=.001). A significant association was also noted between preeclamptic subjects with growth restriction and ABO blood type (p=