Human leukocyte antigens and circulating immunoglobulin levels in Indian patients with pulmonary tuberculosis

Histocompatibility antigens (-A, -B and -C loci) and circulating antibodies (IgG, IgM, IgA and IgE) were studied in 63 pulmonary tuberculosis patients and regionally matched healthy volunteers from Uttar Pradesh, India. A previously described association with antigen B15 in an heterogeneous sample of North India was not confirmed but a slight increase of antigen B18 was found. The levels of immunoglobulins in the plasma of these patients showed a significant increase in IgG, IgA and IgE. Although the increased levels of IgG and IgA are in agreement with previous studies, the role of the increased IgE is not clear and needs further investigation. Patients who were antigen B14 and B18 positive tend to show significantly low levels of IgG, which suggests a possible genetic influence on the expression of immunoglobulin levels.