Abstract
Purpose: :
To elucidate the genetic background of superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis(SLK), we examined HLA-A,B,C and DR antigens in Japanese patients with SLK.
Methods: :
HLA-A,B,C and DR typing was performed in 29 patients with SLK and 103 healthy controls by using microcytotoxicity test. DRB1 gene typing of DRB1*1501,1502,1601 and 1602 was also performed in 5 patients with SLK.
Results: :
1) HLA-A,B and C antigens showed no significant differences between patients with SLK and controls. 2) In HLA-DR antigens, HLA-DR2 antigen was more frequent in patients with SLK (18/29, 62.1%) than controls (34/103, 33.0%) (p<0.005 RR=3.32)3) In gene typing, all of five patients with SLK showed DRB1*1501. 4) There was no significant differences of the incidence of HLA-DR2 between SLK patients with or without Graves disease. (with Graves 9/13 69.2%, without Graves 10/16 52.5%)
Conclusions: :
These results indicate that SLK may be associated with genes in the HLA-DR region and that genetic factors linked to HLA play a role in the pathogenesis of this disease.
Keywords: conjunctivitis • inflammation