HLA class I and class II polymorphisms in Saudi patients with myasthenia gravis

Int J Immunogenet. 2009 Jun;36(3):169-72. doi: 10.1111/j.1744-313X.2009.00843.x.

Abstract

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a rare autoimmune disease of the neuromuscular junction. MG has been shown to be associated with many HLA antigens in different populations. Here we have analysed the frequency of HLA-A, B, DR and DQ in a group of Saudi MG patients and compared their results to a group of healthy controls. MG in Saudi patients is found to be associated with HLA-A*23, B*08, B*18, DRB1*16 and DRB1*13. The strongest association was with HLA-B*08, which was associated with young age at onset and female gender. Our results are in line with other published results from around the world and warrant fine mapping of the area using microsatellite to map the disease gene.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alleles
  • Female
  • Gene Frequency / genetics*
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease*
  • Haplotypes
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / genetics*
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Myasthenia Gravis / epidemiology
  • Myasthenia Gravis / genetics*
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Saudi Arabia / epidemiology
  • Sex Factors

Substances

  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II