Associations of HLA-antigens with the Development of Endometriosis

Kim, D H; Kim, T C; Hur, M; Lee, M G; Park, A J; Kim, J K; Kim, D W; Choi, D S

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Many of previous reports have demonstrated a hereditary tendency to development of endometriosis and the incidence of the disease varies in different ethnic groups. However, the genetic background to these differences has not been clearly explained. Our investigation was performed to seek a possible association between certain HLA antigens and the development of the endometriosis.
METHODS
From May 1997 to the end of October 1998, 70 patients, 39 patients who have endometriosis [34 nonfamilial and 5 familial subjects] and 31 control subjects, were typed for HLA-A, B, C, and DR. To evaluate differences in HLA antigen frequencies between endometriosis and control subjects, X2 tests were performed. Analysis was performed on the entire sample of 39 as well as separatively for familial[n=5] and nonfamilial subjects[n=34]. A two-tailed P value was calculated for each X2 value. Fisher`s exact P value was calculated for small numbers.
RESULTS
Increased frequency of HLA-A24, B61, and DR15 antigen were found as compared the entire sample of 39 endometriosis to 31 control subjects [p <0.05]. In turn, there was a reduced frequency of DR2 antigen in endometriosis. Also, increased frequency of HLA-B61 and DR3 antigen were found as compared 5 familial subjects to 31 control subjects[p <0.05].
CONCLUSION
We suggest that the development of endometriosis may be associated with HLA antigens, specially A24, B61, DR15 and negatively associated with DR2, and that HLA-B61 and DR3 antigens may be associated with the development of the familial endometriosis. We think that HLA typing may be valuable in detecting those women with a tendency to develop endometriosis, and further study is needed.