Acta haemat. 56: 19-26 (1976)
Interrelations between ABO Blood Group, Plasminogen, «l-Antitrypsin, «¿-Macroglobulin and the Platelet Count in Blood Donors A udrey D aw son , M ary A elardyce , T. M. A llan , D. O gston , D. F. K erridge and H. B. M. L ewis Departments of Pathology, Medicine and Statistics, University of Aberdeen, and North-East of Scotland Blood Transfusion Service, Aberdeen
Key Words. a,-Antitrypsin • a2-MacrogIobulin • Blood groups • Fibrinolysis • Oral contraception • Plasminogen
M ourant et al. [21] have reviewed the evidence for the existence of an association between blood group A and thrombo-embolic disease. The haemostatic process involving platelets, the coagulation mechanism and the fibrinolytic system may be important in the genesis of thrombotic dis ease. The association between blood group A and thrombo-embolic dis ease may be mediated through factors participating in the haemostatic process. Accordingly, we have examined the interrelations between ABO blood group, age, sex, plasminogen, the antiplasmins a2‘macrogl°bulin and a,-antitrypsin, and the platelet count in a group of healthy subjects.
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Abstract. The levels of plasminogen, aj-antitrypsin, a2-macroglobulin and the platelet count were measured in 511 blood donors. The mean level of a,-antitrypsin was significantly lower in men of group B compared with that of group O. No other differences between the blood groups reached statistical significance. Women had higher mean levels of a,-antitrypsin and a2-macroglobulin and a higher platelet count than men. The levels of plasminogen and a,-antitrypsin were significantly higher in women using oral contraceptives compared with those who were not. The level of a2-macroglobulin fell with age until the 60-64 year age-group in men and the 40-49 year age-group in women. A positive correlation existed between the a,antitrypsin and the a2-macroglobulin level and between the platelet count and the plasminogen level.
20
D awson/A llardyce/A llan/O gston/K erridge/L hwis
Subjects and Methods The subjects tested were blood donors from the City of Aberdeen, age 18-64, who had volunteered to give donations at the Regional Transfusion Centre for the preparation of cryoprecipitate. The sessions were held between 9 and 10 in the morning. All the subjects had given at least one previous donation, and were famil iar with the surroundings and staff. 511 donors were studied, 272 male and 239 female. 26 women were ascertained to be taking oestrogen/progestogen preparations and they have been considered sep arately. Of the remainder, 204 were of group O, 126 men and 78 women; 220 were of group A, 118 and 102 women, and 61 were of group B, 28 male and 33 females. Group AB donors were not included in the study. Of the group A donors 168 were further subdivided into A, (116) and A2 (52). The samples were obtained at the end of donations of approximately 420 ml of blood into Fenwal plastic bags (Travenol Laboratories Ltd., Thetford), the samples being collected direct from the donor after the plastic tubing had been clipped and divided. Plasma and serum were separated within 1 h of blood collection, and stored at -30 °C till assay. Because of tube breakage and other laboratory accidents a few donors do not have a complete set of assay results. Platelet counts were performed by one of the authors [M. A.] by the method of O ettle and Spriggs [25], within 1 h of blood collection.
Plasminogen, a2-antitrypsin and a2-macroglobulin were measured as described previously [22].
Results
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Blood group differences. The means and SD of all five parameters and age, subdivided by ABO blood group and sex, are shown in table I. The mean level of a,-antitrypsin was significantly lower for group B than group O men (p0.1
Interrelations between ABO Blood Group, Plasminogen, «l-Antitrypsin, «¿-Macroglobulin and the Platelet Count in Blood Donors A udrey D aw son , M ary A elardyce , T. M. A llan , D. O gston , D. F. K erridge and H. B. M. L ewis Departments of Pathology, Medicine and Statistics, University of Aberdeen, and North-East of Scotland Blood Transfusion Service, Aberdeen
Key Words. a,-Antitrypsin • a2-MacrogIobulin • Blood groups • Fibrinolysis • Oral contraception • Plasminogen
M ourant et al. [21] have reviewed the evidence for the existence of an association between blood group A and thrombo-embolic disease. The haemostatic process involving platelets, the coagulation mechanism and the fibrinolytic system may be important in the genesis of thrombotic dis ease. The association between blood group A and thrombo-embolic dis ease may be mediated through factors participating in the haemostatic process. Accordingly, we have examined the interrelations between ABO blood group, age, sex, plasminogen, the antiplasmins a2‘macrogl°bulin and a,-antitrypsin, and the platelet count in a group of healthy subjects.
Downloaded by: Lund University Libraries 130.235.66.10 - 1/1/2019 9:30:59 PM
Abstract. The levels of plasminogen, aj-antitrypsin, a2-macroglobulin and the platelet count were measured in 511 blood donors. The mean level of a,-antitrypsin was significantly lower in men of group B compared with that of group O. No other differences between the blood groups reached statistical significance. Women had higher mean levels of a,-antitrypsin and a2-macroglobulin and a higher platelet count than men. The levels of plasminogen and a,-antitrypsin were significantly higher in women using oral contraceptives compared with those who were not. The level of a2-macroglobulin fell with age until the 60-64 year age-group in men and the 40-49 year age-group in women. A positive correlation existed between the a,antitrypsin and the a2-macroglobulin level and between the platelet count and the plasminogen level.
20
D awson/A llardyce/A llan/O gston/K erridge/L hwis
Subjects and Methods The subjects tested were blood donors from the City of Aberdeen, age 18-64, who had volunteered to give donations at the Regional Transfusion Centre for the preparation of cryoprecipitate. The sessions were held between 9 and 10 in the morning. All the subjects had given at least one previous donation, and were famil iar with the surroundings and staff. 511 donors were studied, 272 male and 239 female. 26 women were ascertained to be taking oestrogen/progestogen preparations and they have been considered sep arately. Of the remainder, 204 were of group O, 126 men and 78 women; 220 were of group A, 118 and 102 women, and 61 were of group B, 28 male and 33 females. Group AB donors were not included in the study. Of the group A donors 168 were further subdivided into A, (116) and A2 (52). The samples were obtained at the end of donations of approximately 420 ml of blood into Fenwal plastic bags (Travenol Laboratories Ltd., Thetford), the samples being collected direct from the donor after the plastic tubing had been clipped and divided. Plasma and serum were separated within 1 h of blood collection, and stored at -30 °C till assay. Because of tube breakage and other laboratory accidents a few donors do not have a complete set of assay results. Platelet counts were performed by one of the authors [M. A.] by the method of O ettle and Spriggs [25], within 1 h of blood collection.
Plasminogen, a2-antitrypsin and a2-macroglobulin were measured as described previously [22].
Results
Downloaded by: Lund University Libraries 130.235.66.10 - 1/1/2019 9:30:59 PM
Blood group differences. The means and SD of all five parameters and age, subdivided by ABO blood group and sex, are shown in table I. The mean level of a,-antitrypsin was significantly lower for group B than group O men (p0.1
