Relationship between primary nodal generalized osteoarthritis with tissue antigens HLA-A and HLA-B in the Western Black Sea region of Turkey

Objective To investigate the relationship between patients diagnosed with nodal generalized osteoarthritis (NGOA) and tissue antigens HLA-A and HLA-B in the Western Black Sea Region of Turkey. Patients and Methods Forty-six patients with NGOA (64.74 +/- 8.46) and 60 controls (62.32 +/- 6.8) were included in the study. Inclusion criteria were: (i) stage 2 and higher OA of the hand and knee based on the Kellgren-Lawrence classification, and (ii) stage 2 and higher lumbar disc degeneration according to Lawrence classification. Family histories were taken from patients. HLA-A and HLA-B were typed by PCR using sequence specific primer. Results The frequencies of HLA-A*02 and HLA-B*38 were 58.7% and 15.2%, respectively, in patients with NGOA, and there was a statistically significant relationship between the disease and HLA-A*02 and HLA-B*38. The relationship between positive family history and HLA-B*44 allele was also statistically significant. In the control group, the frequency of HLA-A*29 was 11.7% and it was statistically significant. Conclusion To our knowledge this is the first study to demonstrate the epidemiologic association between HLA-A*02 and HLA-B*38 with NGOA in our population. We conclude that, HLA-B*44 positivity may be associated with familial NGOA and HLA-A*29 may be a preventive factor against NGOA.