Risk of haematological malignancies in HLA-B27 carriers

Human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 carriers are predisposed to inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Among 1137 patients with haematological diseases, 59 HLA-B27 carriers were identified. Compared with 18 774 volunteers. the i ncidence of HLA-B27 was increased in patients with acute leukaemia (relativ e risk RR=1.67, P=0.002), for both acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) (RR)=1.67, P=0.007) and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) (RR=1.68, P=0.094). Of al l the HLA-B27 carriers, four patients had ankylosing spondylitis (AS), all with lymphoid malignancies (three ALL. one Hodgkin's disease), whereas no H LA-B27 carriers with myeloid leukaemia had AS symptoms (P=0.006). This sugg ests that HLA-B27 carriers may have an increased risk of acute leukaemia an d those with concomitant AS may be predisposed to lymphoid malignancies.