DNA TYPING OF HLA-B27 GENE AMONG INDIVIDU ALS WITH JOINT DISEASES

To determine the HLA-B27 gene subtypes associated with joint diseases we examined 55 patients (35 with ankylosing spondylarthritis (AS), 13 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 5 with Reiler's syndrome, 2 with psori atic arthritis). DNA amplification combined with sequence specific oli gonucleotide hybridization were used to identify six HLA-B27 gene alle les. In the AS patients group the frequency of HLA-B2705 variant was f ound to be different significantly from that in healthy West Siberia C aucasians and distribution of HLA-B27 gene allele variants among AS pa tients in East Russia differed from that in West regions of Russia. DN A typing data can be useful together with other criteria for diagnosis of AS in a early onset.