BACKGROUND & AIMS: Whipple's disease is a systemic, chronic, relapsing disorder caused by a combination of environmental (Tropheryma whipplei) and unknown host factors. Because it is a rare disease, the association between HLA type and Whipple's disease has been studied in only small numbers of patients; these studies have led to conflicting results. We aimed to investigate whether disease phenotype and outcome are associated with HLA type in 122 patients with Whipple's disease. METHODS: Genomic DNA was collected from 103 German, 11 Italian, and 8 Austrian patients with Whipple's disease, along with 62 healthy Austrian workers exposed to T whipplei (14 stool samples contained the bacterium). HLA class I and II alleles were identified by polymerase chain reaction analysis. Patient genotypes were compared with those of healthy German and Austrian populations; data for Italian controls were obtained from the Pavia HLA bone marrow donors' bank. RESULTS: HLA-DRB1*13 and DQB1*06 alleles occurred significantly more frequently in patients with Whipple's disease but not in healthy individuals who had been exposed to T Whipplei. The cumulative odds ratios for disease were 2.23 for the DRB1*13 allele (P < .0001) and 2.25 for the DQB1*06 allele (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: DRB1*13 and DQB1*06 alleles were found to be risk factors in the largest HLA study ever performed in patients with Whipple's disease.
BACKGROUND & AIMS:Whipple's disease is a systemic, chronic, relapsing disorder caused by a combination of environmental (Tropheryma whipplei) and unknown host factors. Because it is a rare disease, the association between HLA type and Whipple's disease has been studied in only small numbers of patients; these studies have led to conflicting results. We aimed to investigate whether disease phenotype and outcome are associated with HLA type in 122 patients with Whipple's disease. METHODS: Genomic DNA was collected from 103 German, 11 Italian, and 8 Austrian patients with Whipple's disease, along with 62 healthy Austrian workers exposed to T whipplei (14 stool samples contained the bacterium). HLA class I and II alleles were identified by polymerase chain reaction analysis. Patient genotypes were compared with those of healthy German and Austrian populations; data for Italian controls were obtained from the Pavia HLA bone marrow donors' bank. RESULTS:HLA-DRB1*13 and DQB1*06 alleles occurred significantly more frequently in patients with Whipple's disease but not in healthy individuals who had been exposed to T Whipplei. The cumulative odds ratios for disease were 2.23 for the DRB1*13 allele (P < .0001) and 2.25 for the DQB1*06 allele (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS:DRB1*13 and DQB1*06 alleles were found to be risk factors in the largest HLA study ever performed in patients with Whipple's disease.
Authors: Walter Geissdörfer; Verena Moos; Annette Moter; Christoph Loddenkemper; Andreas Jansen; René Tandler; Andreas J Morguet; Florence Fenollar; Didier Raoult; Christian Bogdan; Thomas Schneider Journal: J Clin Microbiol Date: 2011-11-30 Impact factor: 5.948
Authors: Bryan A Bassig; Peter D Inskip; Laurie Burdette; William R Shapiro; Robert G Selker; Howard A Fine; Jay S Loeffler; Peter M Black; Robert Dubrow; Alina V Brenner Journal: J Neuroimmunol Date: 2010-12-30 Impact factor: 3.478
Authors: C A S Menezes; A K Sullivan; M T Falta; D G Mack; B M Freed; M O C Rocha; K J Gollob; A P Fontenot; W O Dutra Journal: Clin Exp Immunol Date: 2012-08 Impact factor: 4.330
Authors: F Biagi; A Schiepatti; C Badulli; I Sbarsi; L Trotta; G E Feurle; C Müller; V Moos; T Schneider; T Marth; M De Amici; M Martinetti; G R Corazza Journal: Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis Date: 2015-07-08 Impact factor: 3.267
Authors: F Biagi; C Badulli; G E Feurle; C Müller; V Moos; T Schneider; T Marth; J Mytilineos; F Garlaschelli; A Marchese; L Trotta; P I Bianchi; M Di Stefano; A L Cremaschi; A De Silvestri; L Salvaneschi; M Martinetti; G R Corazza Journal: Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis Date: 2012-07-31 Impact factor: 3.267