HLA-B27 and Ankylosing Spondylitis in Jordan

Ali Otom¹ and (Mh’d Rami) Al-Ahmar²*

¹D.Med Rehab (RCP), London, Head of Rheumatology and Rehab Department, King Hussein Medical Center, Jordan.

²Specialist of Rheumatology and Rehablitation, King Hussein Medical Center, Jordan.

*Corresponding Author E-mail: dr.alahmar@hotmail.com; Mobile: +962779005069

Accepted 17 December, 2013

Abstract

To describe HLA-B27 pattern in a group of Jordanian patients with ankylosing spondylitis who were diagnosed and followed up at the Rheumatology and Rehabilitation clinic - King Hussein Medical Centre during the period April, 2004 to June, 2010 and to review their clinical profile. A retrospective review of the medical records of 135 patients diagnosed to have Ankylosing Spondylitis attending the Rheumatology and Rehabilitation clinic at King Hussein Medical Centre. Patients were diagnosed to have Ankylosing Spondylitis according to the modified New York criteria. Data collected include: age, gender, duration of disease, demography, HLA-B27 positivity, X-ray findings and clinical profile. One hundred medical records were included as they contained sufficient data and the rest were eliminated. They were 89 males and 11 females with male to female ratio 8.1:1. Their age ranged between 21-44 years (mean age 34.7 years). HLA-B27 was found to be positive in 72% (72 patients). The majority were living in the northern part of Jordan (70%). All subjects had radiological evidence of bilateral sacroilitis grade ≥ Ⅱ, and clinical evidence of Ankylosing Spondylitis. The HLA-B27 positivity is significantly associated with Ankylosing Spondylitis in Jordan and it is more prevalent in northern part of the country.

Keywords: Ankylosing Spondylitis (A.S), Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA-B27), Sacroiliitis.