PREVALENCE OF SPONDYLOARTHROPATHIES AND HLA-B27 IN THE NATIVE POPULATION OF CHUKOTKA, RUSSIA

Objective. We sought to determine the prevalence and nature of spondyl oarthropathies (SPA) and the prevalence of HLA-B27 in the native selec ted circumpolar population of Chukotka, Russia. Methods. We conducted a cross sectional study that included medical examinations and intervi ews of 355 of 498 (71.3 %) native residents of 2 Eastern Chukotka sett lements, Enmelen and Nunligran. Results. Among them were 268 Chukchas, 7 Eskimos, and 80 subjects of mixed race. There were 9 subjects (2.5% ) with SPA, 3 of 7 Chukchas had ankylosing spondylitis (AS) (1.1%), 2 reactive arthritis (ReA), 2 with undifferentiated SPA. Among the mixed race persons one Chukcha-Eskimo had AS, one Eskimo-Russian had psoria tic arthritis (PsA). We found a high percentage of HLA-B27 antigen in the population, 34% in Chukcha natives and 25% in mixed race. Conclusi on. Our data complement other studies of circumpolar populations and r einforce the reported high prevalences of SPA and HLA-B27 among those populations.