Abstract
We have previously reported a high sex ratio among newborn infants of B group compatible with their mothers. Further analysis of 631 consecutive newborn infants from the population of Rome has shown the following. The proportion of B compatible females is lower than expected on the basis of ABO gene frequencies. The mean birth weight of these infants is about 300 g. below the mean level for females (p.∼0.01). No similar deviation are observed among male newborn infants. The data suggest that XX zygotes of B group compatible with their mothers may experience a relative disantvantage during intrauterine life, resulting in a sex ratio deviation in favour of males. Previous investigations on the relationship between birth weight and blood groups have given contrasting results. The present data indicate that such relationship does indeed exist and it is influenced by the sex of infant and the feto-maternal ABO compatibility.
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Gloria-Bottini, F., Pascone, R., Lucarini, N. et al. ABO blood groups and birth weight. Pediatr Res 13, 86 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197901000-00099
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197901000-00099