Human leukocyte antigens profile in women with pre-eclampsia

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the frequencies of HLA Classes 1 and 2 antigens in women with obvious pre-eclampsia when compared to normotensive controls to demonstrate evidence of genetic factor contribution in the etiology of pre-eclampsia. In this prospective case-control study all the patients were managed at the Maternity Hospital, Kuwait. About 14 ml of blood was withdrawn from 25 women with pre-eclampsia and 25 normotensive controls. HLA phenotyping was done using a Terasaki microlymphotoxicity test for both classes, land II. In HLA Class 1, A31, A34, Cw8 antigens were more common in pre-eclamptic women [p<.0.4], while A28, Bw7 and Bw8 antigens were more common in the controls [p<0.02]. In HLA Class II, DR4, DRw14, DQw14, and DQw3 were more common in the pre-eclamptic women than in the controls [p<0.05]. The Relative Risk Ratios were significant for Al, Aw24, A31, A36, B27, Bw42, Cw5, Cw7 and Cw8, as well as DR2, DR3, DR4, DRw11, DQw2 and DQ4. Pre-eclamptic women differ genetically from controls with HLA Class 1 and Class 2