Attached
Aims: This study aimed to assess association of selected HLA (Human Leukocyte
antigen) alleles; HLA-DQA1*0102, HLA-DQA1*0103, HLA-DQBP0301 with H.
pylori infection among a Sri Lankan dyspeptic patient population.
Methods: Gastric biopsy specimens from 100 patients who underwent upper
gastrointestinal endoscopy at a tertiary care hospital were investigated in this
study. Presence of H. pylori was confirmed using histology and PCR. Histological
interpretation was done using Modified ‘Sydney system’. The presence of HLA
alleles and selected virulence genes of H. pylori; cagA, vacA and babA2, were
determined using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).
Results: Mfld to moderate inflammation was observed in 96 biopsy specimens.
Alleles, HLA-DQA1*0102, HLA-DQA1*0103, HLA-DQB1*0301 was seen 39%,
31% and 20% respectively in the 100 dyspeptic patients. Out of 25 H. pylori
confirmed patients (by PCR or histology), 56% (14/25), 36% (9/25) and 12%
(3/25) were positive for HLA-DQA1*0102, HLA-DQA1*0103 and HLADQB1*0301 alleles respectively. Out of 22 H. pylori PCR positive biopsies, one
was positive for cagA with vacA s2/ml strain type, 7 were positive for babA2 and
histological examination revealed mild to moderate inflammation. H. pylori
infection showed significant association with HLA-DQA1*0102 (p=0.044) and
inflam m ation (p=0.030). HLA-DQA1*0103 and HLA-DQB1*0301 showed no
significant association with either H. pylori infection, inflammation or file
presence of virulence genes.
Conclusion: HLA-DQA1*0102 allele has a significant association with H. pylori
infection while HLA-DQA1*0103 and HLA-DQB1*0301 shows no significant
association in a Sri Lankan dyspeptic patient population.
Keywords - Dyspepsia, Human Leukocyte Antigen, HLA-DQ, Helicobacter
pylori, virulence genes.
