title: The role of the human leukocyte antigen system in retinopathy of prematurity: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the association between the human leukocyte antigen system and retinopathy of prematurity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Neonates of <32 weeks of gestational age, born at two level III neonatal intensive care units from January 2000 to December 2001 and from January 2006 to June 2009, were included in the study. Demographic and clinical data were recorded, and retinopathy was classified according to the International Classification. Epithelial cells were collected from the oral cavity and the HLA were studied using the PCR/SSO method. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using SPSS® v.18.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We evaluated 156 neonates, including 82 (52.6%) males. Median gestational age was 29 (23-31) weeks, and median birth weight was 1030 (525-1935) grams. Seventy (44.9%) of the neonates developed retinopathy. Alleles HLA-B*38, HLA-Cw*12, HLA-DRB1*09, HLA-DRB1*14 (univariate analysis) and HLA-A*68 and HLA-Cw*12 were associated to retinopathy (multivariate analysis).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that the HLA system may be associated with the development of retinopathy of prematurity. A large-scale population-based study should be performed to clarify this association.
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Centro Hospitalar de São João, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Filipa
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Flor-de-Lima
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Proença
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tafulo
authors.forename: Fátima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.forename: Hercília
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guimarães
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens
keywords: Genetics; Human leukocyte antigen alleles; Retinopathy of prematurity