RÉSUMÉ
Background: Autoimmune hepatitis [AIH] is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by necrotic inflammation leading to hepatocyte destruction. The association of human leukocyte antigens [HLA] with AIH development and onset is not fully elucidated especially in the Tunisian population
Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the association of HLA class II alleles and DRB1-DQB1 haplotypes with AIH in Tunisian population
Patients and Methods: A total of 30 AIH patients and 60 healthy controls were included in the study. HLA class II typing was performed by Single-specific-primer polymerase chain reaction [PCR-SSP] technique
Results: Among 13 DRB1 and 5 DQB1 alleles resolved, our results show a positive association of HLA-DRB1*03 [38.3% vs. 21.6%, OR = 2.24, P = 0.028] and negative association of HLA-DRB1*11 [3.3% vs. 16.7%, P = 0.019]. The analysis of DRB1-DQB1 haplotypes in cases and controls revealed 11-shared haplotypes with a frequency exceeding 1%. HLA-DRB1?11-DQB1*03 haplotype showed a decreased frequency in AIH patients [1.6% vs. 15.8%, P = 0.009] and may be considered as an haplotype of resistance to AIH
Conclusions: To our Knowledge, this is the first study performed to detect the HLA-DRB1 and DQB1 alleles associated with predisposition to AIH in Tunisian patients. The search for HLA predisposing genes to AIH may permit an earlier diagnosis allowing a better management and treatment of the disease in order to avoid liver transplantation