title: HLA class I polymorphisms in Tunisian patients with otosclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Otosclerosis is a common form of hearing impairment among Western-Eurasian adults. The cause of otosclerosis remains unknown. Autoimmune reaction against the otic capsule has been suggested as a possible aetiologic factor in otosclerosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study is the first report to evaluate the relationship between class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes (HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-Cw) and genetic susceptibility to otosclerosis in Tunisian patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty unrelated Tunisian patients exhibiting clinical otosclerosis were typed for HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-Cw antigens and compared with 100 ethnically-matched healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Increased frequencies of HLA-A*03 (OR = 4.16, Pc < 0.043), HLA-B*35 (OR = 2.76, Pc < 0.043) and HLA-Cw*03 (OR = 4.57, Pc < 0.043) antigens were found in the patients with otosclerosis compared with healthy controls. Individuals with HLA-A*30 (OR=0.25, Pc < 0.043), HLA-B*51 (OR = 0.11, Pc < 0.043), HLA-Cw*16 (OR = 0.08, Pc < 0.043) and Cw*06 (OR=0.32, Pc < 0.043) antigens have a protective effect against otosclerosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, the data suggest that a variation in class I HLA antigens could be a genetic factor involved in susceptibility to otosclerosis in the Tunisian population.
authors.affiliation: Unité d'Epidémiologie Génétique et Moléculaire, Faculté de Médecine de Tunis, Tunisia. insaf.bha@gmail.com
authors.forename: Insaf
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bel Hadj Ali
authors.forename: Asma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ben Saida
authors.forename: Najeh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Beltaief
authors.forename: Imen
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Namouchi
authors.forename: Ghazi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Besbes
authors.forename: Ezzeddine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ghazoueni
authors.forename: Saida
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ben Arab
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D015234:HLA-A Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D015235:HLA-B Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D015236:HLA-C Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010040:Otosclerosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D014416:Tunisia / Q000208:ethnology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015234:HLA-A Antigens; D015235:HLA-B Antigens; D015236:HLA-C Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I