High variability of HLA-B27 alleles in ankylosing spondylitis and related spondyloarthropathies in the population of northern Spain

The distribution of B27 alleles (B*2701-23) was characterized by PCR-SSP in ankylosing spondylitis and related spondyloarthropathies (SpA) in a sample of B27 positive patients from northern Spain. Six B27 alleles were identified: B*2705,02,03,07,08 and B*2713. B*2705 and 02 were the most common alleles in the SpA studied: ankylosing spondylitis (AS) (n = 89), reactive arthritis (ReA) (n = 11), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) (n = 29), and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (n = 21). B*2707 and B*2708 were found in PsA patients and B*2703 in one patient with IBD. B*2713 was identified in a healthy control family. B*2713 has not been reported to be represented in either ethnic group. Thus, this population shows higher levels of B27 diversity than other Caucasian groups. (C) American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics, 2002. Published by Elsevier Science Inc.