HLA-DRB1*04:05 and HLA-DQB1*04:01: Alleles Potentially Associated with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada in Northern Thai Patients

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To determine the frequency and association of alleles at human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 loci in VKH disease patients from Northern Thailand.

Methods

A case–control study was conducted with three subject groups: 23 VKH patients, 20 patients with other uveitis entities, and 40 healthy blood donors. HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 loci were analyzed and the frequency of HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 alleles was calculated by direct counting. The measure of association was calculated by odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval.

Results

In VKH patients, the most prevalent allele was HLA-DRB1*04:05, found in 35% of patients and with the highest OR (42.13). HLA-DQB1*04:01 was the next most prevalent, found in 23.91% of VKH patients. HLA-DQB1*05:02 was also detected in 23.91% of patients; however, a higher prevalence was observed in non-VKH and healthy controls (30% and 35%, respectively).

Conclusion

HLA-DRB1*04:05 and HLA-DQB1*04:01 could be potential genetic markers for VKH.

KEYWORDS:

• Human Leukocyte Antigen
• uveitis
• Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH)
• disease association
• genetic marker

Acknowledgments

The authors extend their sincere gratitude to Prof. Dr. Aniki Rothova, Department of Ophthalmology, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, for her valuable suggestions in manuscript preparation.

Declaration of interests

All authors report no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.