Affiliations: Departament of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology,
Hospital de São João, Porto, Portugal | Division of Neonatology, Maternity Júlio Dinis,
Porto Hospital Centre, Porto, Portugal | Centre of Histocompatibility of Porto, Porto,
Portugal | Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Porto,
Portugal | Faculty of Medicine of Porto University, Porto,
Portugal
Note: [] Corresponding author: Gustavo Rocha, Serviço de
Neonatologia / Departamento de Pediatria, Hospital de São João
– Piso 2, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4202 – 451 Porto,
Portugal. Tel.: +351 225512100, extension 1949; Fax: +351 225512273; E-mail:
gusrocha@oninet.pt
Abstract: There is little data on the association between Human Leucocyte
Antigen (HLA) alleles and Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) of the preterm
newborn. Our aim was to assess associations between HLA alleles and BPD
susceptibility. We studied 156 preterm neonates (82 M/ 74 F) < 32 weeks
gestational age, alive at 36 weeks gestational age. Detailed clinical data were
collected. HLA typing was performed by PCR-SSO. HLA allele frequencies where
determined by direct counting for BPD and no-BPD groups. Comparison between BPD
and no BPD groups was performed using t-test, χ2 test or Fisher exact test
and logistic regression as appropriate. Relative risks (RR) and their 95%
confidence intervals (95% CI) were also calculated as association measures. We
diagnosed 56 (35.9%) neonates with mild BPD and 27 (17%) with moderate/ severe
BPD. We found a significant association between HLA-DRB1*01 and mild BPD
(OR=3.48[1.23–10.2]).The alleles HLA-A*24, -A*68, -B*51,-Cw*07, -Cw*14,
-Cw*15 and -DRB1*01 presented a significant association with moderate/ severe
BPD. When adjusted to gestational age and birth weight HLA-A*68 (OR=5.41[1.46;
20.05]), -B*51 (OR=3.09[1.11; 8.63]) and -Cw*14 (OR=4.94[1.15; 21.25]) were
significantly associated with moderate/ severe BPD. Conclusion – Our
findings suggest an association between HLA-A*68, -B*51 and -C*14 and BPD
susceptibility, and that an autoimmune mechanism may be implicated in the
pathogenesis of the disease.
Keywords: HLA, major histocompatibility complex, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, preterm newborn
