title: The Association between Human Leukocyte Antigens and Hypertensive End-Stage Renal Failure among Yemeni Patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Many studies have attempted to locate a connection between various genetic factors and the pathogenesis of certain diseases. A number of these have found human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) to be the most significant genetic factors affecting the susceptibility of an individual to a certain disease. The present case-control study aimed to determine the connection between class I and class II HLAs and cases of hypertensive end-stage renal failure (HESRF), as contrasted with healthy controls, in Yemen.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was carried out between March 2013 and March 2014 and included 50 HESRF patients attending the Urology & Nephrology Center at Al-Thawra University Hospital in Sana'a, Yemen, and 50 healthy controls visiting the same centre for kidney donation. Among both patients and controls, HLA class I (A, B and C) and class II (DRB1) genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reactions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was an association (odds ratio: 4.0) with HLA-A9(24) and HESRF, although this was not statistically significant. A significant protective function was found for the HLA-CW3 and DRB1-8 genes against the development of HESRF. Although HLA-B14 was present in some patients (0.06) and not in the controls, this difference was not statistically significant enough to conclude that HLA-B14 plays a role in the genetic predisposition for end-stage renal disease development. There was a high frequency of HLA-A2, B5, CW6, DRB1-3, DRB1-4 and DRB1-13 in both patients and controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although no HLAs were found to play a highly significant role in genetic predisposition to HESRF, certain HLA genes could be considered as protective genes against HESRF development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology & Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sciences & Technology, Sana'a, Yemen;
authors.forename: Mogahid Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Nassar
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology & Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Sana'a University, Sana'a, Yemen;
authors.forename: Hassan A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Al-Shamahy
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Immunology, Al-Thorah University Hospital, Sana'a, Yemen; ; Yemen Ministry of Public Health, Sana'a, Yemen.
authors.forename: Haitham A A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Masood
keywords: Case-Control Study; HLA Antigens; Hypertension; Renal Failure, End-Stage; Yemen