Is there an association between ABO blood grouping and periodontal disease? A literature review

INTRODUCTION: Although several studies have investigated the relationship between ABO blood group and medical diseases, few reports have explored the association with oral diseases, including periodontal disease (PD). AIM: The aim of this literature review was to assess the association between the ABO blood grouping and PD. METHODS: We searched PubMed and Google Scholar databases using the following terms in different combinations: “ABO blood group,” “periodontitis,” “aggressive periodontitis (AP),” “risk factor,” and “Rhesus factor.” Databases were searched for articles published from 1977 to August 2016. Titles and abstracts of articles were screened for English-language papers describing clinical studies, case reports, or retrospective studies of oral health status in patients with different ABO blood groups. Letters to the editor, historic reviews, and articles including unpublished data were excluded. Reference lists of included studies were reviewed for additional original and review studies. RESULTS: We identified eight articles describing studies of the relationship between ABO blood groups and PD. The findings suggested a possible genetic basis in the association of the blood group AB with AP. Four studies showed that chronic periodontitis was more common among patients with blood group O. CONCLUSION: ABO blood subgroup and Rhesus factor could constitute risk predictors in the development of PD.