Human Lymphocyte Antigen DR7 Protects Against Proliferative Retinopathy with Type II Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract Background This study was undertaken in order to analyze the genetic incidence of human lymphocyte antigen diabetic retinopathy (HLA-DR) and its influence in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Methods We designed a case-control study in which 127 mestizo Mexican patients with DM II and diabetic retinopathy were studied. DNA was extracted and HLA-DR regions were amplified using PCR. Alleles were determined by DNA hybridization. Diagnosis was assessed clinically and by fluorescein angiography. Incidence of HLA-DR alleles in patients was compared with an ethnically matched control group of healthy subjects ( n = 98). Statistical significance was established with non-parametric tests. Results Patients with diabetic retinopathy showed less frequency of HLA-D11 compared with the control group ( p = 0.043). NPDR patients with 10 or more years of DM II showed an increase of HLA-DR7 ( p = 0.01). Conclusions Our results suggest that the presence of HLA-DR7 protects against the development of proliferative disease in the diabetic Mexican population.