Blood group in otitis media with effusion.

The aim of the present study was to assess whether blood group ABO is a risk factor for otitis media with effusion (OME). In a screening program 889 children were studied with pneumatic otoscopy, tuning fork tests, audiometry, impedance measures and blood group tests. Among these children, there were 51 children with OME at the time of examination (5.7%), and 838 healthy children. Multivariate logistic regression risk for OME was compared between children with different blood groups, taking sociodemographic and history-related risk factors into account. Blood group and OME were found to be statistically related. Considering children of blood group A as a reference, children with blood group O had a statistically significant lower risk of OME. Children with blood group B did not have lower risk. Children with blood group AB had lower relative risk for OME, but not significantly so. Examining Rhesus factor as a predictor for OME, no relationship was found. It is concluded that blood group O (and possibly AB) plays a preventive role, while blood group A or B are burdensome for OME. Copyright 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel