HLA-DR Association of Anti-dsDNA and Anti-Sm Autoantibodies in Bangladeshi Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Background: Rheumatic disorders are one of the largest health problems in the world in both developed and developing countries. Among systemic rheumatic disorders, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is very much common. This debilitating disease most commonly affects females, especially at a young age. Though the exact etiology for the development of SLE still remains vague but genetic factors especially, HLA-DR plays an important role particularly in the development of autoantibodies in SLE cases. Objective: This study was undertaken to find out the association of HLA-DR with anti-dsDNA and anti-Sm autoantibodies among patients with SLE. Methods: Buccal swabs for HLA-DR typing and blood samples for detection of anti-dsDNA and anti-Sm were collected from 46 SLE cases. HLA-DR typing was carried out by end point polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with sequence specific primers. Autoantibodies were detected by using ELISA. Results: Out of 46 cases with SLE 44 (95.65%) were female and 2 (4.35%) were male with female: male ratio was 22: 1. Their mean age at study entry was 27.05 ± 8.17 years (mean ± SD), ranging from 12.5-45 years. AntidsDNA was positive in 38 (82.61%) cases and negative in 8 (17.39%) cases. Anti-Sm was positive in 19 (41.30%) cases and negative in 27 (58.70%) cases. The most frequently identified HLA-DR was DR2 (86.96%). When Anti-dsDNA positive cases were compared with Anti-dsDNA negative cases significant association was found with HLA-DR2 (94.73% vs 50%, p value = 0.0044, pc = 0.044, RR = 18.0000). No positive association of HLA-DR was found with anti-Sm autoantibody in this study. The above data suggest that HLA-DR2 has a role in anti-dsDNA production in Bangladeshi patients with SLE. Bangladesh Medical Res Counc Bull 2022; 48: 138-145