Allelic distribution of HLA-B*5 in HLA-B5-positive Israeli patients with Behcet's disease

In order to investigate the sub-typing of the B5 antigen in Israeli (Jewish and Arabic) patients with Behcet's disease (BD) allele-specific genotyping of B51 and B52 alleles was performed in Israeli BD patients and healthy co ntrols. Among the HLA-B51-positive BD patients, B*5101 was found to be the predominant allele, identified in 62% of all BD patients, and 78 % of Jewis h BD patients. HLA-13*5101 was also the predominant allele in HLA-B51-posit ive healthy controls. HLA-B*5108 and B*5104 alleles were identified in 23% and 15% of B51-positive BD patients respectively. The HLA-B*5201 allele was identified in all HLA-B52-positive patients and controls. Our study sugges ts that both HLA-B*5101 and HLA-B*5201 are the dominant alleles of HLA-B5 i n Israeli BD patients.