title: Human platelet antigens in Burmese, Karen and north-eastern Thais.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A comparative study of allele frequencies at HPA-1 to -6 and HPA-15 in Burmese and Karen populations as well as at HPA-15 in north-eastern Thais (NET) is presented.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Human platelet antigens (HPAs) are clinically important in several immune platelet disorders, including foetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT), post-transfusion purpura (PTP) and platelet transfusion refractoriness (PTR). The knowledge of antigen frequencies in a population is essential for the evaluation of patients suffering from immune-mediated platelet disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 285 unrelated, healthy Burmese, 242 Karen and 300 NET were recruited to this study. Genotype and allele frequencies of HPA-1 to -6 and HPA-15 were defined using polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP) RESULTS: No individuals homozygous for HPA-1bb, -2bb, -4bb, -5bb and -6bb were detected. HPA-1a, -2a, -4a, -5a and -6a were present in all samples of Burmese and Karen origin. HPA-1b, -2b, -4b, -5b and -6b were rare in these populations. The frequencies of HPA-3a/-3b were 60·4/39·6% in Burmese and 55·8/44·2% in Karen, respectively. Frequencies of HPA-15a/-15b were 57·2/42·8% in Burmese, 52·5/47·5% in Karen and 49·8/50·2% in NET.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The frequencies of HPA genotypes in our study indicates that HPA-1a, -2a, -4a, -5a and -6a are unlikely involved in FNAIT, PTP and PTR in Burmese and Karen populations. However, HPA-1b, -2b, -3a, -3b, -4b, -5b, -6b, -15a and -15b may likely stimulate alloantibodies in these populations.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Sciences Program, Graduate School, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Phuangtham
authors.affiliation: The Centre for Research and Development of Medical Diagnostic Laboratories, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.|Department of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Sciences, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romphruk
authors.affiliation: Blood Transfusion Center, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Puapairoj
authors.affiliation: The Centre for Research and Development of Medical Diagnostic Laboratories, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.|Department of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Sciences, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leelayuwat
authors.affiliation: The Centre for Research and Development of Medical Diagnostic Laboratories, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.|Blood Transfusion Center, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Romphruk
mesh_terms: D016824:Antigens, Human Platelet / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013785:Thailand / Q000208:ethnology
chemical_list: D016824:Antigens, Human Platelet
keywords: Burmese; Karen; gene frequency; human platelet antigens; north-eastern Thais