title: HLA-DRB1, -DQA1, and -DQB1 subtypes or ACE gene polymorphisms do not seem to be risk markers for severe retinopathy in younger Type 1 diabetic patients.
abstract: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that HLA-DRB1, -DQA1, and -DQB1 subgroups or angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphisms are associated with severe retinopathy in younger Type 1 diabetic patients. Twenty-four Type 1 diabetic patients who had received panretinal photocoagulation for severe nonproliferative or proliferative diabetic retinopathy were compared with 24 Type 1 diabetic patients (participating in a photographic screening program with regular fundus examinations) with no or minimal retinopathy, matched for age at onset and duration of diabetes. The HLA-DRB1-DQA1-B1 haplotype 04-03-0302 represented 22/48 (46%) in the severe and 21/48 (44%) in the no/minimal retinopathy group, respectively (n.s.). The most common genotype, 03-0501-0201/04-03-0302, occurred in 8/24 (33%) with severe and 10/24 (42%) with no/minimal retinopathy, respectively (n.s.). There were no statistical differences between patients with severe and no/minimal retinopathy whether DRB1, DQA1, or DQB1 alleles, haplotypes, or genotypes were analysed. The ACE gene polymorphism was almost identical between patients with severe and no/minimal retinopathy, and serum ACE levels did not differ. Thus, in the present study on a small group with carefully characterised diabetic retinopathy phenotypes, there was no indication that HLA-DRB1, -DQA1, and -DQB1 subtypes or ACE gene polymorphisms were associated with severe retinopathy in younger Type 1 diabetic patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital MAS, SE-205 02 Malmö, Sweden. elisabet.agardh@aftal.mas.lu.se
authors.forename: Elisabet
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Agardh
authors.forename: Lakshmi K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Gaur
authors.forename: Ake
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lernmark
authors.forename: Carl-David
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Agardh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000201:enzymology / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D059848:HLA-DQ alpha-Chains; D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D059848:HLA-DQ alpha-Chains; D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains; C069050:HLA-DQA1 antigen; C069051:HLA-DQB1 antigen; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D007328:Insulin; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A