The Association Between HLA-Class I Antigens and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in a Sample of Iraqi Patients

Abstract

The association between HLA-class I (A and B) antigens and polycystic ovary syndrome was investigated in 45 Iraqi female patients during the period February - July 2010. Additionally, ABO blood group phenotypes (A, B, AB and O) were also investigated. The comparison was made with 40 apparently healthy females (controls) who were blood donors and matched patients for age and ethnicity. The O blood groups showed a significant (P = 0.02) decreased percentage frequency in patients as compared to controls (33.3 vs. 57.5%), but the corrected P (Pc) was not significant (Pc = 0.08). In contrast, the HLA antigens were presented with a corrected significant variation. The antigen HLA-B7 showed a significant (Pc = 0.016) increased percentage frequency in patients as compared to controls (42.2 vs. 10.0%), and such variation was associated with a relative risk (RR) value of 6.58 and an etiological fraction (EF) of 0.36. Such variation may highlight the importance of HLA system in conferring immunogenetic predisposition to develop ovarian cysts.