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

BackgroundFew data are available on the prevalence of celiac disease (CD)-predisposing, HLA-related genes in Arab populations.Aim of the studyTo investigate the distribution of HLA-DQ2 and -DQ8 genotypes in Libyan children with CD and healthy controls.PatientsWe 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).MethodsHLA genes were determined on a drop of dried blood by the DQ-CD Typing Plus kit (DiaGene, Palermo, Italy).ResultsThe HLA-DQ pattern of the 31 CD children was: hetero DQ2 (n = 15), DQ2 with homo β2 (10), DQ8 and β2 positive (3), DQ8 (2), and hetero β2 (1). The HLA-DQ pattern of the 156 controls was: hetero DQ2 (n = 36), hetero β2 (30), DQ2–DQ8 negative (23), DQ8 (19), α5 (14), DQ2 with homo β (12), homo β2 (10), DQ8 and β2 positive (7), and DQ2/DQ8 (5).ConclusionsHLA-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.