HLA-B27 ASSOCIATED CARDIAC DISEASES IN INDIAN PATIENTS WITH ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS
Gomathi Gandhi, Manikandan Mohan, Sudhakar Sivasubramanian, and Krishnan Sundar
Abstract
The association between Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-B27 and the autoimmune disease ankylosing spondylitits (AS) is well known. AS is a type of arthritis with chronic inflammation of the spine and the sacroiliac joints which slowly affects the organs such as heart, kidney and lungs. A retrospective analysis of 200 AS patients from South India was done and the results indicated a positive correlation between AS and cardiac diseases. HLA analysis found that 47 of these patients reported positive for HLA-B27. Among the 47 patients, 32 (68%) tested positive for cardiac diseases due to coronary artery diseases, moderate to severe aortic or mitral valve regurgitation and dysfunction. Positive correlation between cardiac disease and HLA-B27 was found to be more prevalent particularly in younger males. Cardiac evaluation of HLA B-27 should be made mandatory for AS patients expressing HLA B-27 marker.