Association of HLA-DRB1*14 with rheumatic heart disease patients from Chandigarh, North India.

CONTEXT: Acute rheumatic fever (ARF)/rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in India, yet, few studies are available on susceptibility markers.

OBJECTIVE

To associate human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II alleles with north Indian RHD patients as genetic susceptibility markers.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

HLA alleles were analysed using sequence specific primer-polymerase chain reaction and nucleotide sequencing, while HLA-B27 expression by flowcytometry.

RESULTS

Few HLA-DQB1/DRB1 alleles were associated with RHD and HLA-DRB1*14 gene polymorphism revealed two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in patients. Bioinformatic predictions showed influence of SNPs on protein function. HLA-B27 was positive in 42.85% ARF patients.

CONCLUSION

The study showed association of different HLA class II alleles with RHD in North Indian population.