ASSOCIATION BETWEEN HLA CLASS-II ANTIGENS AND PRIMARY ANTIPHOSPHOLIPID SYNDROME FROM THE SOUTH OF SPAIN

Recent studies have suggested an association between primary antiphosp holipid syndrome (PAPS), antiphospholipid antibodies and some major hi stocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens. We have studied the relations hip between MHC class II antigens and PAPS in 19 patients from the sou th of Spain. Univariant analysis showed an association between PAPS an d HLA-DQ7 (47% vs 25%1 P = 0.03), DR4 (32% vs 16%; P = 0.08) and DQ3 ( 63% vs 39%; P = 0.04). However, multivariant analysis confirmed the as sociation with DQ7 (RR = 2.5; CI 80%: 1.3-4.7) and DR4 (RR = 2.2; CI 8 0%: 1.1-4.4) but not with DQ3. When we introduced DRw53 into this anal ysis, we noticed a DR4 confounding effect, with DQ7 (RR = 3.1; CI 80%: 1.7-5.8) and Drw53 (RR = 2.3; CI 80% : 1.2-4.4) remaining as the most important HLA antigens related to PAPS. In conclusion, in PAPS patien ts from the South of Spain, HLA-DQ7 antigen showed the highest relativ e risk for PAPS, followed by DRw53.