Association of MHC class I with spondyloarthropathies in Kuwait

This study is the first to assess the prevalence of HLA B27 in Kuwaiti patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) or related spondyloarthropathies compared to healthy controls. Positive HLA B27 was found in nine (25.7%) of 35 patients, but only in 22 (4%) of 544 controls (P=0.000). A significant difference in Cw2 and Cw6 between patients and controls was also found (P<0.01 and 0.000, respectively), suggesting a linkage disequilibrium between B27 and Cw2 (P<0.000) in the Kuwaiti population. These findings suggest that B27-positive Kuwaitis are at high risk of developing AS and spondyloarthropathies, especially if they carry Cw2 and Cw6. The importance of HLA Cw loci is becoming increasingly apparent in disease association studies.