Objective: To explore the mechanism of correlation between human leucocyte antigen (HLA) and pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH).
Methods: Oligotyped HLA-DQA1, -DQB1 locus in 30 Shanghai Chinese PIH families and 14 control families were analysed by polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific oligonucleotide (PCR-SSO) hybridization method (probes labelled by nonradioactive technique).
Results: Compared with the control group, the allelic frequency of HLA-DQB1 * 0502 was significantly higher in PIH couples, and their sharing of HLA-DQA1 increased. No difference was found in HLA-DQA1 allelic frequency or HLA-DQB1 sharing in couples of the two groups. Analysis of HLA-DQA1 and DQB1 allelic frequency in PIH patients and their neonates showed no positive results.
Conclusion: HLA-DQB1 * 0502 may be the marker of susceptibility to PIH. The increase of compatibility in HLA-D region resulted in decrease of producting blocking antibody. The unbalance of maternal-fetal immunity will induce PIH.