Your Blood Type Could Increase Fatal Liver Disease Risk; Should You Be Concerned?

There

is a significant association between common blood groups A and B with a high risk of developing deadly autoimmune liver diseases, according to a new study. Research suggests that inherited blood type plays a previously under-recognised role in liver autoimmunity – causing hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis, or primary sclerosing cholangitis – all of which are life-threatening conditions. According to the study published in the journal Frontiers, these complications happen when your immune system attacks the liver erroneously - hence continuous destruction, and in some instances, may be fatal liver failure.

Blood type A linked to autoimmune hepatitis

Scientists found that those with blood type A are most strongly linked to autoimmune hepatitis, which causes inflammation and damage. Symptoms include fatigue, joint pain, jaundice, and nausea. Doctors mostly focus the treatment on suppressing the immune system with medications like corticosteroids to slow disease progression.

Blood type B associated with biliary cholangitis

Blood type B is associated with an increased risk of primary biliary cholangitis, also known as primary biliary cholangitis, a chronic and progressive autoimmune disease that gradually destroys the small bile ducts in the liver. This damage causes bile to build up in the liver, leading to inflammation, cirrhosis, and potential liver failure. Symptoms include fatigue, itching, jaundice, dry mouth and eyes, and abdominal discomfort. According to scientists, these trends may reflect immunogenetic mechanisms. AB antigens on cell surfaces may influence immune tolerance, antigen recognition, and inflammatory signalling, thereby modifying susceptibility to autoimmune liver injury.

Why do the blood types matter?

The role of inherited blood groups in several diseases has been under the scanner by scientists for a long time. Many previous studies have established that the non-O types of blood - A, B, or AB - are more disposed compared to O blood to activate the blood clotting factors, among other body changes. Among others, one of these mechanisms is the liver blood vessels in the context of liver disease. Earlier, it was found that slightly higher levels of a blood-clotting molecule, or the von Willebrand factor, were found in those with advanced liver disease with non-O blood types, although it is not a major contributor to the risk.

Implications for early detection and personalised care

Even though scientists have stressed that AB blood type alone cannot predict disease onset, the results do suggest that blood group information serves as a supplementary risk indicator. For those with a family history of autoimmune disease or overlapping immune conditions, this information may support more tailored monitoring strategies or earlier diagnostic consideration.