Association between Kidd blood group and congenital malformations

Background: Since the discovery of blood groups, an association between the se genetic polymorphisms and pathological phenotypes has been searched, loo king for factors involved in the pathogenesis of diseases or biological pop ulation mechanisms that maintain these polymorphisms. In previous reports, we have described some associations between erythrocytic genetic marker seg regation and the presence of congenital malformations. Aim: To explore the association between Kidd blood group and congenital malformations. Patients and methods: One hundred twenty two malformed newborns and their mothers a nd 136 normal newborns, seen at the Clinical Hospital of the University of Chile, were studied. Results: Kidd blood group segregation distortions were found among male malformed newborns, that were not present in normal newbo rns. Among mothers of both groups of newborns, a paucity of heterozygous fo r this system was found. Conclusions: The association found between a blood group and congenital malformations, allows to state that malformed childre n have a different genetic background, when compared to normal children.