To cite this article: Wu O, Bayoumi N, Vickers MA, Clark P. ABO(H) blood groups and vascular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2008; 6: 62-9. Summary. Background: Associations between vascular disease and ABO(H) blood groups have a long history, but no consensus exists regarding its magnitude and significance, or whether it relates to all disorders equally. An accurate calculation of risk would allow direct assessment of whether the effects of non-O status on thrombosis risk are of the magnitude predicted by its effect on von Willebrand factor/ FVIII levels. Methods and results: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies reporting associations with non-O blood groups. This gave pooled odds ratios of 1.25 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.14-1.36] for myocardial infarction (MI), 1.03 (95% CI 0.89-1.19) for angina, 1.45 (95% CI 1.35-1.56) for peripheral vascular disease, 1.14 (95% CI 1.01-1.27) for cerebral ischemia of arterial origin, and 1.79 (95% CI 1.56 to 2.05) for venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, restriction to prospective MI studies only did not confirm the association (OR 1.01; 95% CI 0.84-1.23), although these studies may have failed to capture early-onset disease. For VTE, using a combined group of OO/A 2 A 2 /A 2 O as index, the combination of A 1 A 1 /A 1 B/BB gave an OR of 2.44 (95% CI 1.79-3.33) and A 1 O/ BO/A 2 B an OR of 2.11 (95% CI 1.66-2.68). Conclusions: This study confirms the historical impression of linkage between some vascular disorders and non-O blood group status. Although the odds ratios are similar to those predicted by the effect of ABO(H) on von Willebrand factor levels, further work is required to assess risk prospectively and to refine the effect of reducing O(H) antigen expression on thrombosis. However, as non-O and particularly A 1 A 1 , A 1 B, BB constitute a significant proportion of the population attributable fraction of VTE, there may be a role for more widespread adoption of ABO(H) typing in testing strategies. J Thromb Haemost

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Baseline plasma CRP is a significantly heritable cardiovascular risk factor. Levels are associated with genotype at the -174G/C polymorphism of the IL-6 gene.

SummaryDNA samples collected as part of a large population-based casecontrol study were genotyped to examine the associations of five prothrombotic gene polymorphisms with pre-eclampsia (PE) and gestational hypertension (GH). The polymorphisms studied were: G1691A in Factor V (Factor V Leiden; FVL), prothrombin G20210A, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 4G/5G and the platelet collagen receptor α2β1 C807T. A group of 404 women who developed PE were retrospectively compared with 303 women with GH and 164 control women. The frequency of genotypes did not differ significantly between cases of PE or GH and controls for any of the five polymorphisms studied. We conclude that these prothrombotic genotypes are not associated with the development of PE or GH in our population. The systematic review supports our conclusion, for all but cases of severe disease, which appear to be associated with FVL and, to a lesser extent, MTHFR C677T. There is little value in antenatal screening for prothrombotic polymorphisms to predict the development of pre-eclampsia or gestational hypertension.

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