HLA-DRB1* alleles in Egyptian children with post-streptococcal acute glomerulonephritis

To investigate the association between HLA-DRB1* alleles and post-streptococcal acute glomerulonephritis (PSAGN) in Egyptian children, 32 unrelated patients with PSAGN and 380 healthy individuals from the same locality were typed for DRB1* alleles using the polymerase chain-reverse hybridization technique. Patients with PSAGN had significantly increased frequency of both DRB1* 03011 (46.9 vs. 19.2% in controls, P  = 0.00025) and DRB1* 1105 (31.1 vs. 15.6% in controls, P = 0.0097) alleles. However, after correction of P values, only the difference for DRB1* 03011 allele remained significant (Pc = 0.025). Their relative risks were significantly high (3.71, confidence interval [CI] = 1.8–7.8, and 3.57, CI = 1.4–8.9 respectively). No significant differences in the frequency of the two alleles were observed among patients with different grades of hypertension or proteinuria. In conclusion, DRB1* 03011, and possibly 1105, alleles confer susceptibility to PSAGN. However, the severity of the disease is not determined by these two alleles.