Association between HLA-B*27 polymorphisms and ankylosing spondylitis in Han populations: a meta-analysis

The aim of this study was to determine whether the HLA-B*27 polymorphisms confer susceptibility to ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in Han populations by conducting a meta-analysis.

Publications addressing the association between the HLA-B*27 polymorphisms and susceptibility to AS in Han populations were selected from the MEDLINE, EMBASE and CBMdisc databases. Data was extracted from the studies by 2 independent reviewers. The meta-analyses were performed by Review Manager Version 5.0.24 and STATA Version 9.2 software. From these data, the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was calculated.

Fourteen studies with a total of 1900 AS cases and 831 healthy controls were retrieved. Meta-analysis results showed a positive association between B*2704 and susceptibility to AS in Han population (OR=2.20, 95%CI=1.60-3.02, p<0.00001). However, B*2705, B*2706 and B*2707 showed negative associations with susceptibility to AS in Han populations (OR=0.59, 95%CI=0.43-0.81, p=0.001; OR=0.13, 95%CI=0.05-0.37, p=0.0001; OR=0.23, 95%CI=0.11-0.46, p<0.0001; respectively). In subgroup analysis, there was a positive association between B*2704 and susceptibility to AS in the southerners of China, but not in the northerners. Negative associations between B*2705, B*2706 and susceptibility to AS were determined in the southerners of China, but also not in the northerners. Results showed obviously negative associations between B*2707 and susceptibility to AS both in the southerners and northerners of China.

This meta-analysis confirms that B*2704 might be a potential risk factor and B*2705, B*2706, B*2707 might be potential protective factors for AS in Han populations, especially in the southerners of China.