Role of HLA-DR in the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysm.
OBJECTIVE
to establish a possible role for autoimmunity in the aetiology of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) by examining human leukocyte antigen class II (HLA-II) immune response genes.


METHODS
HLA-II typing was performed in a series of 72 AAA patients and a control group of 380 healthy subjects.


RESULTS
a higher incidence of the allele subtype HLA-DR B1*0401 was detected in the AAA group with respect to the control group (12.5 vs 5.2%; p = 0.02, OR 2.59). In contrast, the HLA-DR B1*01 allele tended to behave as a protective factor for AAA (12.5% AAA vs 21.3% controls; p = 0.09, OR 0.5).


CONCLUSIONS
the association observed here between HLA-DR B1*0401 and HLA-DR B1*01 and unspecific AAA is similar to that reported in several autoimmune diseases. This similarity suggests an essential role for autoimmune factors in the formation of the AAA.
Moñux
G
G
Department of Angiology and Vascular Surgery, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, C/Profesor Martín Lagos s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
Serrano
F J
FJ
Vigil
P
P
De la Concha
E G
EG
D000483:Alleles; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000276:immunology*; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II / Q000276:immunology*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans
D006684:HLA-DR Antigens