title: Association of HLA-DR/DQ polymorphisms with Guillain-Barré syndrome in Tunisian patients.
abstract: Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles have been implicated in many autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study is to assess whether HLA-DR/DQ alleles confer susceptibility to Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) in a Tunisian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The HLA-DR/DQ genotyping was performed using polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP) in 38 patients with GBS and 100 healthy Tunisian control subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GBS in Tunisian patients was found to be associated with the following alleles with these relative patient versus control frequencies (pc denotes Bonferroni corrected probability values): DRB1*13 (23.68% vs. 9.0%; pc=0.01), followed by DRB1*14 (22.36% vs.5.5%; pc<10(-3)). Two haplotypes, DRB1*14/DQB1*05 and DRB1*13/DQB1*03, were found to be associated with susceptibility to GBS. However DRB1*07/DQB1*02 and DRB1*03/DQB1*02 haplotypes were more frequently observed in controls than in patients (11.5% vs.7.9%; pc=0.007 and 23% vs. 5.26%; pc<10(-3) respectively). These haplotypes seem to confer protection against the disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data demonstrated a new GBS predisposition associated with HLA-DRB1*14 and DRB1*13. Theses alleles could be predisposing genetic factors for GBS in the Tunisian population.
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Militaire Principal d'Instruction de Tunis, Service d'Hématologie, Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire, 1008 Montfleury, Tunis, Tunisie; Académie Militaire Fondouk Jédid, 8012 Nabeul, Tunisie. Electronic address: fnajiba@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Najiba
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fekih-Mrissa
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Militaire Principal d'Instruction de Tunis, Service d'Hématologie, Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire, 1008 Montfleury, Tunis, Tunisie; Université de Tunis El Manar, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, 2092, El Manar, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Meriem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mrad
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Militaire Principal d'Instruction de Tunis, Service de Neurologie, 1008 Montfleury, Tunis, Tunisie; Université de Tunis El Manar, Faculté de Médecine de Tunis, 1007 Tunis, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Anis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riahi
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Militaire Principal d'Instruction de Tunis, Service d'Hématologie, Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire, 1008 Montfleury, Tunis, Tunisie; Université de Tunis El Manar, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, 2092, El Manar, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Aicha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sayeh
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Militaire Principal d'Instruction de Tunis, Service de Neurologie, 1008 Montfleury, Tunis, Tunisie; Université de Tunis El Manar, Faculté de Médecine de Tunis, 1007 Tunis, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Jamel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zaouali
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Militaire Principal d'Instruction de Tunis, Service d'Hématologie, Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire, 1008 Montfleury, Tunis, Tunisie; Université de Monastir, Faculté de Pharmacie, 5000 Monastir, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Nasreddine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gritli
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Militaire Principal d'Instruction de Tunis, Service de Neurologie, 1008 Montfleury, Tunis, Tunisie; Université de Tunis El Manar, Faculté de Médecine de Tunis, 1007 Tunis, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Ridha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mrissa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D014416:Tunisia; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains
keywords: Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS); HLA; Neuroimmunology; Neuropathy