Aspirin-induced asthma and HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DPB1 genotypes

• Published in: Clinical and experimental allergy Vol. 27; no. 5; pp. 574 - 577
• Main Authors: DEKKER, J. W., NIZANKOWSKA, E., SCHMITZ-SCHUMANN, M., PILE, K., BOCHENEK, G., DYCZEK, A., COOKSON, W. O. C. M., SZCZEKLIK, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Blackwell 01.05.1997
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Alleles; Allergens - immunology; Aspirin - immunology; Aspirin - pharmacology; Asthma - chemically induced; Asthma - genetics; Biological and medical sciences; Bronchial Provocation Tests; Drug toxicity and drugs side effects treatment; Female; HLA-DP Antigens - genetics; HLA-DR Antigens - genetics; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous (drug allergy, mutagens, teratogens...); Odds Ratio; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Skin Tests; Human; Drug; Immunopathology; Allergy; HLA-System; Respiratory disease; Toxicity; Major histocompatibility system; Class II histocompatibility antigen; Genotype; Acetylsalicylic acid; Asthma; Non steroidal antiinflammatory agent; Analgesic; Etiology; Obstructive pulmonary disease; Salicylates
• ISSN: 0954-7894; 1365-2222
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2222.1997.540848.x

Aspirin-induced asthma (AIA) affects one in 10 individuals with adult-onset asthma. It is not known if aspirin sensitivity is due to immune mechanisms or to interference with biochemical pathways. The study aimed to test for possible involvement of the genes of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) in AIA. HLA-DPB1 and HLA-DRB1 genotyping was carried out by DNA methods in 59 patients with positive challenge tests for AIA and in 48 normal and 57 asthmatic controls. The DPB1*0301 frequency was increased in AIA patients when compared with normal controls (19.5% vs 5.2%, Odds Ratio = 4.4, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.6-12.1, P = 0.002), and compared with asthmatic controls (4.4%, OR = 5.3, 95% CI = 1.9-14.4, P = 0.0001). The frequency of DPB1*0401 in AIA subjects was decreased when compared with normal controls (28.8% vs 49.0%, OR = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.24-0.74, P = 0.003) and asthmatic controls (45.6%, OR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.28-0.83, P = 0.008). The results remained significant when corrected for multiple comparisons. There were no significant HLA-DRB1 associations with AIA. The presence of an HLA association suggests that immune recognition of an unknown antigen may be part of the aetiology of AIA.