The distribution of the ABO and RH blood groups among different populations in the MENA region: A review

Abstract

ABO and Rh (rhesus) blood grouping is one of the most widely available laboratory tests that could prevent possibly deadly mismatches following blood transfusion and organ transplantation. The distribution of the blood group antigens varies between different populations and ethnic groups. Our objective was to showcase these variations within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and to outline the relationship between blood type and disease risk association to determine the current findings and outline possible future study areas. In healthy blood donors, blood group O was found to consistently be the most prevalent blood group and AB the least prevalent blood group except in Turkey where A is the most prevalent and, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where B is the least prevalent blood type.