Solid organ transplantation is an extremely difficult and severe process that requires proper preparation and consideration of an extended number of factors. Among other important steps, ABO typing plays an important role in solid organ transplantation matching and success for a solid organ transplant. As noticed by Chung et al. (2022), “to avoid donor organ rejection or hemolytic transfusion reactions, it is important to select the appropriate ABO group for blood components” (p. 105). Blood typing aims to ensure that the recipient’s and the potential donor’s blood are compatible (Rydberg, 2001). Since 1989, “ABO-incompatible liver transplantations have been performed mainly in emergency cases and the results have generally been inferior to ABO-compatible grafts” (Rydberg, 2001, p. 325). Nowadays, the number of successful ABO-incompatible solid organ transplantations is increasing, and it is possible to suggest that blood typing will not be necessary for transplantations in the nearest future (Chung et al., 2022). ABO typing is still required to increase the chances of success in solid organ matching and transplantation.
Komal, A., Noreen, M., Akhtar, J., Imran, M., Jamal, M., Atif, M., Khan, J., Roman, M., Haq, F. U., Aftab, U., Ghaffar, A., & Waheed, Y. (2021). Analyses of ABO blood groups with susceptibility and symptomatic variations of COVID‐19 infection, a questionnaire‐based survey. Apmis, 129(10), 579-586.
Since the coronavirus outbreak, researchers have tried to determine the various factors that may either increase or lower people’s susceptibility to COVID-19 infection. Apparently, one such factor is ABO blood groups – it is noted that they are associated with the severity of the course of the virus and the level of mortality from it (Komal et al., 2021). The article provides non-medical and non-scientific audiences with some valuable information. The authors state that individuals with O and B blood groups have lower chances of getting infected, while the AB and A blood group persons “are most likely to get COVID-19 infection” (Komal et al., 2021, p. 586). Consequently, it is recommended that people with blood groups A and AB always use their personal protection and strengthen their immunity.
References
Chung, Y., Ko, D. H., Lim, J., Kim, K. H., & Kim, H. (2022). Choice of ABO group for blood component transfusion in ABO-incompatible solid organ transplantation: A questionnaire survey in Korea and guideline proposal. Annals of Laboratory Medicine, 42(1), 105-109.
Komal, A., Noreen, M., Akhtar, J., Imran, M., Jamal, M., Atif, M., Khan, J., Roman, M., Haq, F. U., Aftab, U., Ghaffar, A., & Waheed, Y. (2021). Analyses of ABO blood groups with susceptibility and symptomatic variations of COVID‐19 infection, a questionnaire‐based survey. Apmis, 129(10), 579-586.
Rydberg, L. (2001). ABO‐incompatibility in solid organ transplantation. Transfusion Medicine, 11(4), 325-342.