Increased expression of HLA DR2 in acquired aplastic anemia and its impact on response to immunosuppressive therapy.

OBJECTIVE To study the frequency of HLA DR2 status of patients with aplastic anemia and their response to immunosuppressive therapy at a tertiary care hospital. METHODS Thirty eight consecutive patients of acquired aplastic anemia were evaluated with respect to demographic features, severity of HLA DR2 status and response outcome to immunosuppressive therapy. RESULTS The mean age of the patients was 24.6 years + 16.4 with a male to female ratio of 2.8:1. Positivity of HLA DR2 was markedly high in acquired aplastic anemia patients. Twenty four (65%) out of 38 patients as compared to 45 (15%) of 300 healthy controls (p<0.0001) were positive for HLA DR2. Response to immunosuppressive therapy, which included antilymphocyte globulin, cyclosporin and methylprednisolone, was available in sixteen HLA DR2 positive patients and was found satisfactory in 12/16 (75%) patients. CONCLUSION HLA DR2 was significantly higher in patients with acquired aplastic anemia and favourable response to immunosuppressive therapy was also associated with HLA DR2 positivity.