Objectives: We explored a potential association between nasal polyps (NPs) and polymorphism at loci for human leukocyte antigen (HLA) DR and HLA-DQ.
Methods: Polymorphism at loci HLA-DR and HLA-DQ were examined in 30 patients with NPs and in 81 healthy subjects by use of the polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primer method.
Results: HLA-DR16, HLA-DQ8, and HLA-DQ9 were found to be significantly associated with NPs. HLA-DR16, HLA-DQ8, and HLA-DQ9 specificities were found at higher frequencies in patients with NPs than in control subjects (5% versus 0.62%, RR = 8.9, p = .03; 10% versus 2.47%, RR = 4.81, p = .01; and 20% versus 6.18%, RR = 4.73%, p = .001; respectively). In contrast, HLA-DQ7 was found at lower frequencies in patients with NPs than in controls (10% versus 20.37%, RR = 0.36, p = .04).
Conclusions: We conclude that HLA-DR16, HLA-DQ8, and HLA-DQ9 represent potential susceptibility determinants and that HLA-DQ7 might confer resistance in nasal polyps.