Could there be a relationship between blood groups and varicocele? A multicenter case-control study with a Turkish population

¿Podría existir una relación entre los grupos sanguíneos y el varicocele? Un estudio multicéntrico de casos y controles en una población turca

Background: Although various factors contribute to the pathophysiology of varicocele, the underlying etiological causes have not yet been fully elucidated. Due to the existence of studies showing that there is a relationship between ABO blood group antigens and vascular diseases and that the risk of varicocele increases in men with various vascular diseases, this study aimed to investigate the association between ABO blood groups and varicocele. Methods: This multicenter study involved 6466 participants. The varicocele group included 2295 patients (1799 unilateral and 496 bilateral), while the control group consisted of 4171 individuals without varicocele. All participants visited urology outpatient clinics at 8 different hospitals in Turkey between 2018 and 2023. The groups were compared in terms of demographic data and blood groups. Results: The distribution of the blood groups in the control group and unilateral varicocele group was similar with the Turkish population. On the other hand, in bilateral varicocele group O blood group was found to be significantly lower than the control group (p = 0.0001), and non-O blood groups were found to be significantly higher than unilateral varicocele (p = 0.022) and control groups (p = 0.008). Conclusions: In conclusion, blood groups do not increase the risk of unilateral varicocele. However, patients without blood type O had a significantly higher likelihood of bilateral varicocele compared to those with blood type O. This study highlights a potential association between ABO blood groups and the etiology of varicocele, suggesting that genetically transmitted blood group antigens may contribute to its development within a multifactorial framework.

Resumen

Antecedentes: Aunque diversos factores contribuyen a la fisiopatología del varicocele, las causas etiológicas subyacentes aún no se han elucidado completamente. Debido a la existencia de estudios que muestran una relación entre los antígenos del grupo sanguíneo ABO y las enfermedades vasculares, y que el riesgo de varicocele aumenta en hombres con diversas enfermedades vasculares, este estudio tuvo como objetivo investigar la asociación entre los grupos sanguíneos ABO y el varicocele. Métodos: El estudio multicéntrico incluyó a 6466 participantes. El grupo con varicocele incluyó a 2295 pacientes (1799 con varicocele unilateral y 496 con varicocele bilateral), mientras que el grupo de control estuvo compuesto por 4171 individuos sin varicocele. Todos los participantes asistieron a consultas externas de urología en 8 hospitales diferentes de Turquía entre 2018 y 2023. Se compararon los grupos en términos de datos demográficos y grupos sanguíneos. Resultados: La distribución de los grupos sanguíneos en el grupo de control y el grupo con varicocele unilateral fue similar a la de la población turca. Por otro lado, en el grupo con varicocele bilateral, se encontró que el grupo sanguíneo O era significativamente más bajo que en el grupo de control (p = 0.0001), y que los grupos sanguíneos no O eran significativamente más altos que en los grupos con varicocele unilateral (p = 0.022) y control (p = 0.008). Conclusiones: En conclusión, los grupos sanguíneos no aumentan el riesgo de varicocele unilateral. Sin embargo, los pacientes sin el grupo sanguíneo O presentaron una probabilidad significativamente mayor de tener varicocele bilateral en comparación con aquellos con el grupo sanguíneo O. Este estudio destaca una posible asociación entre los grupos sanguíneos ABO y la etiología del varicocele, sugiriendo que los antígenos de los grupos sanguíneos transmitidos genéticamente podrían contribuir a su desarrollo en un marco multifactorial.

ABO blood-group system; Etiology; Varicocele; Vascular diseases

Palabras Clave

Sistema de grupos sanguíneos ABO; Etiología; Varicocele; Enfermedades vasculares

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