Association of HLA-Class II and IgE serum levels in pediatric asthma.

BACKGROUND Pediatric bronchial asthma is associated with considerable morbidity. The study was carried out to examine the association of Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-Class II with the disease as we found no similar study on Asian Indian population. OBJECTIVE To define the HLA-Class II antigens in Asian Indian pediatric patients with asthma. METHODS A total of 103 children with asthma and 152 controls were analysed for HLA Class II (DRB1, DQB1 and DPB1) by PCR-SSP (Sequence Specific Primers) method. Total serum IgE levels were determined by ELISA assay. RESULTS A positive family history was recorded in 59 patients (57%) and 13 (8.5%) of healthy controls. Serum IgE levels were more than normal range in 72% of the patients and 33% of healthy subjects with mean values of 4877 and 627 IU/ml, respectively. DRB1 04 and DQB1 03 showed significant positive relations while DRB1 15 showed a negative association with asthma. DQB1 02 was more common in healthy individuals but was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS A positive association of the DR4/DQB1 03 and a negative association of DRB1 15 was seen with extrinsic bronchial asthma. However, more studies are required on larger populations to confirm the association of HLA Class II alleles in Indians before a particular allele can be labeled as being protective or causative for asthma.