Abstract
In addition to their major role in transfusion medicine, there is increasing evidence
that ABO blood group antigens (complex carbohydrate molecules widely expressed on
the surface of red blood cells and several other cell types) are implicated in the
development of a wide array of pathologic conditions. In particular, intense research
has been dedicated over the last 50 years to the study of the association between
non-O blood type and the risk of developing cardiovascular disorders. Several pathways
have been hypothesized to explain this relationship, the most reasonable implying
the influence of the ABO blood group on circulating plasma levels of von Willebrand
factor, factor VIII, and several inflammatory cytokines. This narrative review summarizes
the current knowledge on the role of ABO antigens in both venous and arterial thromboses,
focusing on their association with clinical scoring systems evaluating thrombotic
risk.
Keywords
ABO blood group - arterial thrombosis - venous thromboembolism - scoring systems
