Association of group erythrocyte antigens and B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma

We analyzed the frequency distribution of blood groups AB0, Rhesus and Kell in patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. An increase of D− patients (31.0%) among ill in comparison to healthy individuals (16.5%) was found. Based on published data, we exclude weakening or alteration of the D antigen for this pathology. We found an association of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma and D− phenotype. It is established that the chances of developing the disease in D− individuals is 2 times higher than for D+ individuals. However, we did not find a significant association of frequency of minor antigens Rhesus (C, c, E, e, CW), K antigen Kell system, A and B antigens AB0 system and the development of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. We have analyzed the statistics of incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma inWestern Europeand Asian countries. We noticed a roughly twofold increase in the incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma inWestern Europecompared to Asian countries, where the proportion of D− individuals is almost zero. Parallel with the results of our study, it has been found that the chances of D– persons developing B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma are twice as high as for D+ individuals. InUkraine,BelarusandRussiathe incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma is almost at the level of Asian countries even though the percentage of D– individuals corresponds to Western European countries (15–16%). This can be explained by other genetic factors, or reduction in quality of care and diagnostics in post-Soviet countries compared toWestern Europe. Thus, D antigen may have a protective role in the morbidity of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.