Objectives: To evaluate the frequency of HLA Class II antigens in Malays with SLE in order to determine their role in disease susceptibility and association with clinical manifestations.
Design: Cross-sectional study
Methods: Fifty-four SLE patients from Malay ethnic attending Physician Clinic at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia were enrolled into the study. Demographic and clinical findings were obtained from medical records. HLA typing of class II antigens were carried out using MicroSSP Class II generic (DRB/ DQB) from One Lambda Inc. Controls were from ethnically matched healthy individuals.
Results: A univariate analysis confirmed the association between HLA-DR15 with SLE compared to healthy control group; and was maintained using multiple logistic regression model (P corr = 0.002, adjusted OR = 5.513). There was a weak decrease of HLA-DR4 which was not significant after corrections for multiple comparisons made. DR7 was found to be significantly increased in patients with malar rash. There was positive association of DR15 with arthritis in patients compare to those without.
Conclusion: Our data support the role of HLA Class II genes in conferring SLE susceptibility.
Study site: Physician Clinic, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM), Kelantan, Malaysia