title: HLA class I and class II polymorphisms in Saudi patients with myasthenia gravis.
abstract: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a rare autoimmune disease of the neuromuscular junction. MG has been shown to be associated with many HLA antigens in different populations. Here we have analysed the frequency of HLA-A, B, DR and DQ in a group of Saudi MG patients and compared their results to a group of healthy controls. MG in Saudi patients is found to be associated with HLA-A*23, B*08, B*18, DRB1*16 and DRB1*13. The strongest association was with HLA-B*08, which was associated with young age at onset and female gender. Our results are in line with other published results from around the world and warrant fine mapping of the area using microsatellite to map the disease gene.
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences/King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Hajeer
authors.forename: F Al
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Sawidan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bohlega
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saleh
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sutton
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shubaili
authors.forename: A Al
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Tahan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al Jumah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006239:Haplotypes; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics*; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II