[The HLA-B5 immunogenetic marker in Behçet's disease]

Area of Science:

• Immunogenetics
• Rheumatology
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• Behçet's disease (BD) is a multisystemic inflammatory disorder with complex etiology.
• Genetic factors, particularly human leukocyte antigen (HLA) associations, are implicated in BD pathogenesis.
• Previous studies suggest a link between HLA antigens and BD, but specific associations require further investigation in diverse populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between class 1 HLA antigens and Behçet's disease in a multinational patient cohort.
• To determine the relative risk and association strength of specific HLA antigens with BD.
• To explore correlations between HLA antigen status and clinical manifestations of BD.

Main Methods:

• Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class 1 typing was performed on 23 patients diagnosed with Behçet's disease.
• Patient cohort comprised individuals from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region, including Caucasoid and Mongoloid ethnicities.
• Statistical analysis was employed to compare HLA antigen frequencies between patients and normal controls, calculating relative risk and association power.

Main Results:

• HLA B5 antigen was found significantly more frequent in Caucasian BD patients (73.7%) compared to normal controls (15.5%).
• The association between HLA B5 and BD remained statistically significant even after adjusting for antigen numbers.
• Combined B5 and B35 antigen positivity further increased relative risk and association power with BD.
• Patients positive for B5 antigen exhibited a higher incidence of superficial thrombophlebitis and a lower incidence of gastrointestinal involvement.

Conclusions:

• Class 1 HLA antigens, specifically HLA B5, demonstrate a strong association with Behçet's disease in patients from CIS countries.
• HLA B5 may serve as a significant genetic marker for BD susceptibility in this population.
• The presence of HLA B5 is correlated with distinct clinical phenotypes, including increased risk of superficial thrombophlebitis and decreased gastrointestinal involvement.