HLA-DQ2 and-DQ8 genotypes in celiac and healthy Libyan children

Background: Few data are available on the prevalence of celiac disease (CD)-predisposing, HLA-related genes in Arab populations. Aim of the study: To investigate the distribution of HLA-DQ2 and -DQ8 genotypes in Libyan children with CD and healthy controls. Patients: We tested 31 Libyan children with CD (22 females and 9 males, median age 9.2 years) and 156 Libyan controls (81 females and 75 males, median age 10.9). Methods: HLA genes were determined on a drop of dried blood by the DQ-CD Typing Plus kit (DiaGene, Palermo, Italy). Results: The HLA-DQ pattern of the 31 CD children was: hetero DQ2 (n = 15), DQ2 with homo beta 2 (10), DQ8 and beta 2 positive (3), DQ8 (2), and hetero beta 2 (1). The HLA-DQ pattern of the 156 controls was: hetero DQ2 (n = 36), hetero beta 2 (30), DQ2-DQ8 negative (23), DQ8 (19), alpha 5 (14), DQ2 with homo beta (12), homo beta 2 (10), DQ8 and beta 2 positive (7), and DQ2/DQ8 (5). Conclusions: HLA-DQ2 and -DQ8 in CD patients are as common in Libya as in Italy, but the frequency of high-risk genotypes is higher in Libyan than Italian patients. The prevalence of HLA-DQ2 and -DQ8 genes in the Libyan general population is higher than in Italy, indicating a strong genetic predisposition to CD. (C) 2009 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana Sri. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.