HLA class I and II in black children with hepatitis B virus-associated membranous nephropathy

✍ Scribed by Bhimma, Rajendra; Hammond, Mike G.; Coovadia, Hoosen M.; Adhikari, Mirriam; Connolly, Catherine A.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• Year: 2002
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 74 KB
• Volume: 61
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0085-2538
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1523-1755.2002.00287.x

✦ Synopsis

Background:

The pathogenetic mechanisms by which individuals with chronic hepatitis b virus (hbv) infection develop membranous nephropathy (mn) are probably dependent on interactions between viral, host and environmental factors; some evidence suggests a genetic predisposition. hbvmn constitutes a major etiological group in black children with nephrotic syndrome. we therefore explored the hla associations in black children with hbvmn.

Method:

Thirty black children, age range 2 to 16 years, with biopsy-proven hbvmn, were the subjects of the study. hbv status was determined using third generation elisa. hla a, b and c antigens were determined using a two-stage lymphocytotoxic test. hla drb1* and dqb1* typing was done using sequence-specific primers. hla class 1 and ii antigen frequencies of the study subjects were compared to controls that were randomly chosen healthy blood donors from the same population.

Results:

Hla dqb1*0603 was increased in patients with hbvmn compared to controls (chi2 = 13.65, rr = 4.3). drb1*07 and dqb1*02 were increased in frequency in the study subjects but failed to reach statistical significance. there was no significant difference in the frequencies of class 1 antigens in the study group compared to controls.

Conclusion:

To our knowledge, this is the first report of hla associations in black patients with hbvmn in whom class 1 and 11 antigens were determined using molecular methodology. there was a high frequency of dqb1*0603 in subjects compared to controls, suggesting a possible genetic predisposition to the development of hbvmn.