HLA-DR IS STRONGLY ASSOCIATED WITH VOGT-KOYANAGI-HARADA-DISEASE IN MEXICAN MESTIZO PATIENTS

Purpose: To analyze the genetic background of human leukocyte antigens (HLA) of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease in Mexican Mestizo patien ts in order to establish whether the pathogenesis is related to the sa me genes or sequences described in other populations. Patients and met hods: In 48 VKH patients, we performed HLA class I and class II typing using the standard microlymphocytotoxicity tests; a group of 100 nonr elated healthy subjects were analyzed for comparison. Antigen and gene frequencies were calculated for every antigen tested in patients and in controls. Results: The frequency of HLA-DR4 was significantly incre ased in VKH Mexican patients (x(2)Y=19.95; p=0.00001; pc=0.0002; RR=5. 3; EF=0.52); a discrete increase in DR1 was also found (p=0.02). HLA-D Q8 also showed a significant association with the disease with a lower RR (3.2) and EF (0.41) than DR4. Conclusion: The strong association f ound with HLA-DR4 and the slight DR1 increase shown in Mexican patient s with VKH suggest that a common shared sequence present in the third hypervariable region of DRB1 genes is relevant for the expression of t he disease. The stronger association with DR4 than the one with DQ8 su ggests that the DR locus carries the primary susceptibility genes invo lved in the pathogenesis of VKH.