[Class 1 and 2 HLA in coeliacia patients in Belarus]

Coeliacia is a genetically determined disease with pathogenesis underlain by altered activity of HLA genes. The aim of this work was to assess the HLA status of patients suffering coeliacia from Belarus. Typing of HLA classes 1 and 2 was undertaken in 25 patients. HLA class 1 and 2 genes were identified in 200 and 106 healthy subjects respectively that served as controls. 23 patients were found to have at least one classical risk allele (DQA1*05, DQD1*02, DQB1*302) and 11 proved homozygous for DQB1*02. Two patients had none of the risk alleles but carried DQB1*08, DQB1*05, A2, B7, B13, Cw6, Cw7, Bw4, and Bw6. The occurence of DQB1*03 (RR = 15.2, 95%; CI 5.47-42.21); DQB1*02 (RR = 12.2, 95%; CI 3.40-43.03); B8 (RR = 13.01, 95%; CI 5.19-32.76); Cw7 (RR = 4,5, 95%; CI 1,71-11,66) in patients with coeliacia was significantly higher than in controls. Moreover, a positive relationship was documented between the disease and A2-B13 haplotype (RR = 4.2, 95%; CI 1.44-12.19) and negative correlation between the disease and DQB1*0301, 0303 (RR = 0.2, 95%; CI 0.66-0.57). It is concluded that Belorussians suffering coeliacia exhibit typical immunogenetic characteristics inherent in this disease. More extensive studies are needed to elucidate its population-specific features.