Human leukocyte antigen-associated uveitis in Thai population: Brief review

• Main Authors: Nampeung Anukul, Nipapan Leetrakool, Kessara Pathanapitoon
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chaing Mai University 2015-01-01
• Series: Journal of Associated Medical Sciences
• Subjects: Human leukocyte antigen; HLA; uveitis; disease association
• Online Access: https://www.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/bulletinAMS/article/view/59949

Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) has been associated with several immune-mediated diseases, malignancies and infectious diseases. Due to the HLA complexity and polymorphisms, several types of HLA have been used as the molecular markers in diagnosis. Among different ethnic groups, HLA is genetically diverse resulting in the differences of disease susceptibility. The study of HLA in Thai population will help an understanding of diseases pathogenesis and the genetic linkage leading to the development of genetic markers that are specific to Thai population. Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) syndrome, HLA-B27-associated acute anterior uveitis (AAU) and Behçet’s disease (BD) were found to be the major causes of non-infectious and autoimmune-related uveitis in Thai patients. Several etiologic studies in Western, European and other Asian populations reported the strong association between HLA-DR4 and VKH, HLA-B27 and AAU as well as HLA-B51 and BD. However, few in HLA-B27 and none in HLA-B51 and HLA-DR4 related uveitis study have been reported in Thailand. This briefly review discusses the association of HLA and non-infectious uveitis among populations and future research aspects for Thai populations. Bull Chiang Mai Assoc Med Sci 2015; 48(1): 10-17.  Doi: 10.14456/jams.2015.6