Evaluation of HLA Class II Alleles in Cases with Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria
Abstract
Objectives: Autoantibodies against high-affinity IgE receptor or IgE on the surface of mast cells and basophils are held responsible for
etiopathogenesis in some cases with chronic spontaneous urticaria. Factors causing the development of autoimmunity are unknown. Genetic factors
are known to play a role in autoimmunity and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles are associated with many autoimmune diseases. Our study
aimed to investigate the frequency of HLA class II alleles in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria.
Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, HLA class II alleles were evaluated in the 80 cases with chronic spontaneous urticaria and
in the control group consisting of 100 renal transplant donors. The case group was divided into subgroups by applying autologous serum skin
test (ASST). HLA class II alleles were determined in chronic spontaneous urticaria cases with positive and negative ASST and the control group by
molecular analysis method (Olerup SSP DQ-DR Combi tray, Genovision, Vienna, Austria).
Results: ASST was found positive in 57.5% of the patients. The frequency of HLA DRB1*04 and HLA DQB1*08 alleles was found to be significantly
higher in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria compared to the control group. In contrast, the frequency of HLA DRB1*07 and HLA DQB1*09
alleles was significantly lower (p<0.05). When the ASST positive and negative case groups and the control group were compared, HLA DRB1*04 and
HLA DQB1*08 alleles were higher in the ASST positive patient group (p<0.05). In the ASST negative patient group, HLA DRB1*01 and HLA DRB1*07
alleles were found in low frequency (p<0.05).
Conclusion: The fact that there is a significantly higher frequency of HLA DRB1*04 and DQB1*08 alleles in cases with positive ASST and these alleles
do not differ significantly from the control group in cases with negative ASST support the idea that autoimmune mechanisms are responsible for
pathogenesis in some of the patients.
Keywords
Genetic Predisposition, HLA Class II Alleles, Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria, Autologous Serum Skin Test, Autoimmunity
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