title: HLA-DQ2 and -DQ8 genotypes in celiac and healthy Libyan children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few data are available on the prevalence of celiac disease (CD)-predisposing, HLA-related genes in Arab populations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the distribution of HLA-DQ2 and -DQ8 genotypes in Libyan children with CD and healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  We tested 31 Libyan children with CD (22 females and 9 males, median age 9.2 years) and 156 Libyan controls (81 females and 75 males, median age 10.9).
  
  
  METHODS
  HLA genes were determined on a drop of dried blood by the DQ-CD Typing Plus kit (DiaGene, Palermo, Italy).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The HLA-DQ pattern of the 31 CD children was: hetero DQ2 (n=15), DQ2 with homo beta2 (10), DQ8 and beta2 positive (3), DQ8 (2), and hetero beta2 (1). The HLA-DQ pattern of the 156 controls was: hetero DQ2 (n=36), hetero beta2 (30), DQ2-DQ8 negative (23), DQ8 (19), alpha5 (14), DQ2 with homo beta (12), homo beta2 (10), DQ8 and beta2 positive (7), and DQ2/DQ8 (5).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HLA-DQ2 and -DQ8 in CD patients are as common in Libya as in Italy, but the frequency of "high-risk" genotypes is higher in Libyan than Italian patients. The prevalence of HLA-DQ2 and -DQ8 genes in the Libyan general population is higher than in Italy, indicating a strong genetic predisposition to CD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Omar Al Mukhtar University, Al Bayda, Libya.
authors.forename: Kamla
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alarida
authors.forename: Jumma
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harown
authors.forename: Maria Rosaria
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Di Pierro
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Drago
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Catassi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D004586:Electrophoresis; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008002:Libya / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; C053186:HLA-DQ2 antigen; C109756:HLA-DQ8 antigen; D004247:DNA