Summary
The view based on epidemiological and laboratory data that blood group A subjects
(=A) have clinically significant higher thrombotic potential than blood group 0 subjects
(= O), is supported by the present finding of a significantly higher platelet retention
in A than 0.
The completely normal ABO distribution found among 71 cases of proven latent CHD,
and the disproportionate excess of 0 vs. A in a consecutive series of 191 coronary
artery bypass candidates apparently conflict with epidemiological data indicating
a higher risk of achieving CHD in A than 0. The conflict may be solved by suggesting
a) that the »thrombotic proneness« in A compared with 0 causes a poorer prognosis
in CHD among the former, leaving a disproportionate excess of 0 among longterm CHD
survivors, and b) that AB0-related factors have had an insignificant, independent
impact on the evolution of preclinical coronary artery disease in our 71 men with
latent CHD.
Keywords
AB0-related coronary risk factors - Platelet retention - Coagulation factors - Blood
group A and arterial thrombosis