OBJECTIVE Actinic keratoses (AK) are proliferation of neoplastic keratinocytes confined to the epidermis induced by damaging solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR). When the neoplastic keratinocytes extend in to papillary-reticular dermis, then the lesion termed as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). We have compared HLA class I and II antigen profiles in three patient groups namely: AK (n: 31) (patients...

Coeliac disease is an inflammation of the small intestine, occurring in genetically susceptible individuals triggered by the ingestion of gluten. Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA) DQ2 and DQ8 gene have been identified as key genetic factors in coeliac disease as they are presented in almost 100 % of the patients. These genes are encoded by the combination of certain alleles in the DQA and DQB regi...

The treatment of choice for certain immunodeficiency syndromes and hematological disorders is bone marrow transplantation (BMT). The success of BMT is influenced by the degree of HLA compatibility between recipient and donor. However, aberrant expression of HLA sometimes makes it difficult, if not impossible, to determine the patient's HLA type by standard serological and cellular techniques. W...

A 30-year-old Japanese female developed insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). She later complained of muscle pains at the age of 37. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein were abnormal, with negative antinuclear antibody and rheumatoid factor tests. The diagnosis of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) was made. She had HLA phenotypes including A2 and without DR4, consistent with ...

The occasional familial occurrence of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (NS) points to a genetic predisposition. Reports on associations with certain HLA class II antigens support this hypothesis. In order to define the immunogenetic background of NS more precisely, HLA class II allele frequencies in 161 children with NS were studied by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) typing. The pa...

PURPOSE Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease is an immune-mediated disorder with autoimmune insult directed against antigens associated with melanocytes. The genetic predisposition among VKH has not been explored in Saudi Arabia. So, the purpose of this study was to investigate the association of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1 alleles to VKH patients and to clarify the molecular genetic mecha...