Immunogenetic analysis of Takayasu arteritis in Indian patients

The distribution of HLA-A, B, C and DR antigens was determined in a cohort of 104 unrelated Indian patients with Takayasu arteritis (TA) belonging to the North Indian states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. The da ta was compared with healthy controls belonging to the same ethnic group. I n addition, polymorphism in the MHC class I chain related A (MIC A) gene wa s studied in a group of 25 TA patients and 40 healthy controls. The data re vealed a strong association of the disease with HLA-BS (chi(2) =22.5, P <1x 10(-6), RR=3.08) as well as its two common serological subtypes, B51 (chi(2 ) =20.5) and B52 (chi(2) =18.5). No particular association was observed wit h any of the five alleles of the MIC A gene, nor any linkage disequilibrium could be established with these alleles and those of HLA-B locus in this p opulation. The observation suggest that HLA linked genes are definitely inv olved in the development of Takayasu arteritis and that the disease in Indi an subjects is associated with HLA-BS and its two serological subtypes, B51 as well as B52. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved .