FREQUENCY OF HUMAN LEUKOCYTE ANTIGEN B27(HLA-B27) IN CLINICALLY DIAGNOSED ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS; A STUDY OF 100 CASES

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of Human leukocyte antigen B-27 patients with clinically diagnosed ankylosing spondylitis and frequency of peripheral joints‟ involvement and serum inflammatory markers (raised serum C-reactive protein & erythrocyte sedimentation rate).

Study Design: Descriptive, cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Rheumatology Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi for duration of 10 months from Jan 2018 to Oct 2018.

Methodology: We included 100 cases of Ankylosing Spondylitis. Sample was selected by consecutive sampling technique and used “(Modified) New York Classification Criteria for Ankylosing Spondylitis”. Blood samples for C-reactive protein & erythrocyte sedimentation rate and Human leukocyte antigen B-27 were analysed by the same pathologist. We analyzed the data by using SPSS version 20.

Results: Mean age of cases was 25 ± 4.5 years. Seventy-seven patients were positive for Human leukocyte antigen B27 and 23 were negative. In 69% patients erythrocyte sedimentation rate was high and in 64% patients C-reactive protein was raised. In 33% patient there was only axial involvement while peripheral arthritis was present in 67% of patients and enthesitis in 60%. Only 5% patients have the uveitis (All positive for Human leukocyte antigen B-27). Only one patient had cardiac involvement.

Conclusion: Ankylosing Spondylitis was found a common disease and study results showed similar trends of positive Human leukocyte antigen B-27 cases as in the rest of the world. Human leukocyte antigen B-27 has a strong statistically significant association with peripheral joint involvement and acute anterior uveitis.