The association of maternal ABO blood group with gestational diabetes mellitus in Japanese pregnant women

Aims: To investigated the association between the ABO blood group and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Materials and methods: A retrospective case-control study was conducted using data from 5424 Japanese pregnancies. GDM screening was performed in the first trimester using a casual blood glucose test and in the second trimester using a 50-g glucose challenge test. If the screening was positive, a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test was performed for a GDM diagnosis, which was defined according to the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups. Logistic regression was used to obtain the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) adjusted for traditional risk factors.

Results: Women with the A blood group (adjusted OR: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.19-0.63), B (adjusted OR: 0.35, 95% CI: 0.18-0.68), or O (adjusted OR: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.21-0.74) were at decreased risk of GDM compared with those with group AB. Women with the AB group were associated with increased risk of GDM as compared with those with A, B, or O (adjusted OR: 2.73, 95% CI: 1.64-4.57).

Conclusion: ABO blood groups are associated with GDM, and group AB was a risk factor for GDM in Japanese population.