P1 BLOOD-GROUP ANTIGEN EXPRESSION AND EPIDEMIC HEMOLYTIC-UREMIC SYNDROME

P1 blood group positivity has been postulated as a host factor which m ay provide protection against the development of post-enteropathic hem olytic uremic syndrome (HUS). In this study, blood group status in 20 Inuit survivors of Escherichia coil 0157:H7-associated HUS was compare d with age- and sex-matched controls from the same community who had e xperienced uncomplicated diarrheal illness due to the same pathogen. O f 20 HUS survivors, 6 were P1 antigen positive compared with 8 of the 20 controls (P = 0.7). We conclude that p1 antigen positivity was not protective against HUS in this population. Further studies of this con dition to clarify the role of host factors in verotoxin-induced endoth elial damage are indicated.