HLA-DRB1*03 and DQB1*0302 associations in a subset of patients severely affected with systemic lupus erythematosus from western India

Genetic factors are likely to be important both in determining the overall susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and in influencing the remarkable clinical heterogeneity in disease expression found in affected subjects. The more common clinical features seen in patients with SLE include, skin and joint diseases, renal disease, neuropsychiatric complications, and also some haematological abnormalities. Genetic factors, together with environmental factors, strongly influence the development of SLE. Multiple loci within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) have been implicated in susceptibility as have HLA class II alleles, complement components, and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) loci. Currently it is believed that some HLA alleles are in genetic linkage disequilibrium with certain disease related genes and they regulate the immune responses. Since 1969, when the first case of SLE was reported from India, the disease has been extensively studied in different regions of the country—namely, Chennai, Calcutta, Mumbai, and New Delhi. A statistically significant clinical correlation comparing the clinical variables from other racial groups of the world has been reported in Indian patients with SLE.1 HLA association studies from Indian patients …