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Abstract

Introduction

Association between human leucocyte antigens and developing end-stage renal diseases has been shown in different settings. Such association has not been described for Sri Lankan in the recent past, especially with regards to the ethnicity. The aim of this study was to determine the association between HLA molecules and end-stage renal disease among patients awaiting renal transplantation, tested at National Blood Centre, Sri Lanka.

Methods

This retrospective study was carried-out at histocompatibility laboratory of National Blood Centre in 2017. HLA typing results of renal patients and donors were analysed retrospectively for one year. During this period, HLA typing was performed by serologically using lymphocytotoxicity test. Antigen frequencies of -A, -B, -C, -DR, and -DQ loci were calculated and compared between patients and donors according to the ethnicity. Relative Risk and 95% Confidence Intervals were calculated for antigens showing significant difference in frequencies.

Results

HLA typing results of 975 patients and 1174 donors were collected. HLA-A33, -A24, -A2, -A11, -B57, -B51, -C7, -C6, -DR15, -DR7, -DQ5, and -DQ6 were the commonest antigens among all patients and donors. Comparison of frequencies among two groups showed significant differences in -A26 and -C2 among Sinhalese, -

B57 and -C3 among Moors and -B7 among Tamils.

Conclusion

HLA-A26 in Sinhalese and -B7 in Tamils were associated positively with end-stage renal disease while -B57 and -C3 in Moors and -C2 in Sinhalese were negatively associated antigens. A study based on molecular HLA typing is needed to identify alleles associated with renal diseases among Sri Lankans.

Keywords: human leucocyte antigen, antigen frequency, end-stage renal disease, Sri Lanka