Association of HLA-class II and IgE serum levels in pediatric asthma

Pediatric bronchial asthma is associated with considerable morbidity. The study was carried out to examine the association of Human Leukocyte Antigen [HLA]- Class II with the disease as we found no similar study on Asian Indian population. To define the HLA-Class II antigens in Asian Indian pediatric patients with asthma. A total of 103 children with asthma and 152 controls were analysed for HLA Class II [DRB1, DQB1and DPB1] by PCR-SSP [Sequence Specific Primers] method. Total serum IgE levels were determined by ELISA assay. A positive family history was recorded in 59 patients [57%] and 13 [8.5%] of healthy controls. Serum IgE levels were more than normal range in 72% of the patients and 33% of healthy subjects with mean values of 4877 and 627 IU/ml, respectively. DRB1*04 and DQB1*03 showed significant positive relations while DRB1*15 showed a negative association with asthma. DQB1*02 was more common in healthy individuals but was not statistically significant. A positive association of the DR4/DQB1*03 and a negative association of DRB1*15 was seen with extrinsic bronchial asthma. However, more studies are required on larger populations to confirm the association of HLA Class II alleles in Indians before a particular allele can be labeled as being protective or causative for asthma

Human leukocyte antigen B27 in 453 Asian Indian patients with seronegative spondyloarthropathy

Spondyloarthropathies are a group of closely related inflammatory arthritis which involve the axial skeleton and are negative for rheumatoid factor. This casecontrol study was conducted to examine HLA- B27 positivity in patients with seronegative spondyloarthritis [SSA] as per ESSG criteria and compare the frequency with healthy controls because a lower positivity is reported in Indians. The study included 453 patients and 200 controls. HLA -B27 typing was done by microlymphocytoxicity and/or by sequence specific primers [SSP] using commercial kits. Patients were categorised as Ankylosing Spondylitis [AS], Undifferentiated Spondyloarthropathy, SSA with inflammatory bowel disease, reactive arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and juvenile spondyloarthropathy. HLA-B27 antigen was present in 56% of patient and 3.5% controls with highest frequency in juvenile spondyloarthropathy [80%], followed by AS [76%]. The P value <0.001 for all categories of SSA and overall Odds ratio was 34.9. This study showed HLA-B27 frequency slightly lower than reported in Caucasian SSA patients and in our opinion HLA- B27 testing is extremely useful in young patients with suspected SSA