Expressivity of ABO antigens and increased predisposition for periodontal disease: A cross-sectional analysis

Context and Aim: Association between certain systemic diseases and ABO antigens is a well-known fact. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is any association between periodontal disease and ABO blood group antigens. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on 200 subjects who were randomly selected from individuals referred for periodontal treatment. The study subjects were segregated into healthy gingiva/mild gingivitis (Group I), moderate/severe gingivitis (Group II), and varying grades of periodontitis groups (Group III), based on Loe and Silness index and clinical attachment loss as the criteria. The study groups were, further, categorized and graded using Ramfjord's periodontal disease index. Blood samples were collected to identify ABO blood groups. Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA), while Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. A P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The findings of the present study suggested that patients with blood group antigens O and B were more predisposed to develop periodontitis with at least one side with attachment loss of more than 3 mm and with periodontal pocket depth of more than 4 mm (P < 0.001). Conclusion: There is a correlation existing between periodontal disease and ABO blood group antigens as far as this region was concerned. This association could be explained by the various blood group antigens acting as receptors for infectious agents associated with periodontal disease. This broad correlation between periodontal disease and ABO blood group antigens pointed toward susceptibility of the subjects with certain blood groups to periodontal disease.