Association between Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders and ABO Blood Groups

Introduction: World Health Organization (WHO) defined the term "potentially malignant disorders" (PMD) as the risk of malignancy being present in a lesion or condition either during the time of initial diagnosis or at a future date. Clinically PMD appear as white or red patch with or without symptoms. The aim of the present study was to analyze the association between ABO blood groups and oral PMD. Materials and methods: Hundred patients with clinically diagnosed with PMD were included in the study. Patients who were not willing to give their blood sample for estimations of blood group were excluded from the study. ABO blood grouping was carried out using Eryscreen plus Kit. Statistical analysis: The data collected was entered in Excel sheet and descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) was calculated using SPSS software version 21.0. Results: Out of 100 PMD patients, 65% were males and 35% were females. Majority of patients were in the age group of 30-39 (30 %). Majority of lesions were oral sub mucous fibrosis accounting for 48%, followed by lichen planus 27%, leukoplakia 22%, erythroplakia 2% and discoid lupus erthyomatosa 1%. Association of ABO blood groups with PMD showed majority of lesions in blood group B (38%), followed by group A (33%), group O (19%), and group AB (10%). Conclusion: Blood group B patients were more prone to develop PMD in our study. Blood group screening in patients with history of tobacco and alcohol consumption, helps in early detection of PMD and prevention of malignancies.