Erythrocyte 1 group antigen expression in VTEC-associated hemolytic uremicsyndrome

Background: The P1 blood group antigen has been postulated as a protective host factor against the development of the verotoxin-associated with hemoly tic uremic syndrome (HUS). Patients and methods: In this study the P1 blood group antigen in 59 Japanese children with a past history of hemorrhagic c olitis (HC) was scored with a direct agglutination method using a commercia l anti PI antibody. Results: The P1 antigen was positive in 4 (21.1%) of 19 patients with a history of postdiarrheal HUS and in 11 (28.0%) of 40 patie nts with no history. There were no significant differences in the frequency of the P1 phenotype between the 2 groups (p = 0.629). Conclusion: We concl uded that the P1 blood group antigen is not a protective factor against the development of HUS from verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli(VTEC)-infecte d hemorrhagic colitis in Japanese individuals.