The Rh Negative Blog

HIV resistance and Rh(D) negative blood

Even when there is protection, it doesn't equal immunity.

The human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) are two species of Lentivirus (a subgroup of retrovirus) that infect humans. Over time they cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive.

Recently, I have shared several studies from both, the Indian subcontinent as well as the continent of Africa showing HIV infected individuals showing significantly lower percentages of Rh(D) negatives among them than are present within the control groups (general population) within those regions.

This indicated a potential resistance to the virus, but not immunity.

In order to lead towards a conclusive judgement, we have to consider the following:

Many of the Rh(D) negative individuals from those studies may not have a complete deletion of the D gene.

In order for us to get a clearer picture, more detail is necessary and data from European countries where Rh(D) negative subjects are more likely to have a complete deletion of the D gene is needed.