title: HLA-B27 as a diagnostic screening tool in chronic low back pain.
abstract: Forty-five of 52 consecutive patients with chronic low back pain were screened for presence of HLA-B27 antigen one year after they were included in a rehabilitative program. Six (13.3%) were positive and, when re-examined radiographically, 2 had signs of ankylosing spondylitis. The proportion of antigen-positive individuals is similar to that found in a population study of healthy Swedish blood donors, and within the range of other populations of healthy controls. It is concluded that HLA-B27 is of limited diagnostic value as a screening test for ankylosing spondylitis in a patient group with chronic low back pain.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen