Impact of HLA-B51 on Uveitis and Retinal Vasculitis: Data from the AIDA International Network Registries on Ocular Inflammatory Disorders

Sota J.;Guerriero S.;Lopalco G.;Tufan A.;Ragab G.;AlMaglouth I.;Govoni M.;Sfikakis P. P.;Frassi M.;Vitale A.;Kardas R. C.;Triaggianese P.;Chimenti M. S.;Aboabat A. A.;Piga M.

Writing - Review & Editing

;Monti S.;Sebastiani G. D.;Yildirim D.;Conforti A.;Gentileschi S.;Dammacco R.;Hinojosa-Azaola A.;Kawakami-Campos P. A.;Ruffilli F.;Torres-Ruiz J.;Thabet M.;Atig A.;Ruscitti P.;Cataldi G.;Viapiana O.;Hatemi G.;Karakoc A.;Costi S.;Iagnocco A.;Crisafulli F.;Fragoulis G.;Del Giudice E.;Hegazy M. T.;Paroli M. P.;Sahin A.;Morrone M.;Iannone F.;Opris-Belinski D.;Asfina K. N.;Barone P.;Gaggiano C.;Kucuk H.;Gicchino M. F.;Carubbi F.;Caggiano V.;Laskari K.;Tharwat S.;Direskeneli H.;Alibaz-Oner F.;Sevik G.;Maier A.;Laymouna A. H.;Emmi G.;Akkoc N.;Tarsia M.;Sbalchiero J.;Conti G.;Spinella R.;La Torre F.;Tombetti E.;Amin R. H.;Mauro A.;Karamanakos A.;Carreno E.;Fonollosa A.;Cattalini M.;Breda L.;de-la-Torre A.;Wiesik-Szewczyk E.;Cifuentes-Gonzalez C.;Ozen S.;Mazzei M. A.;Tosi G. M.;Frediani B.;Balistreri A.;Batu E. D.;Gupta V.;Cantarini L.;Fabiani C.

2024-01-01

---

Abstract

Purpose: The clinical relevance of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) subtypes such as HLA-B51 on Behçet’s disease (BD)-related uveitis and non-infectious uveitis (NIU) unrelated to BD remains largely unknown. Methods: Data were prospectively collected from the International AIDA Network Registry for BD and for NIU. We assessed differences between groups (NIU unrelated to BD and positive for HLA-B51, BD-related uveitis positive for HLA-B51 and BD-related uveitis negative for HLA-B51) in terms of long-term ocular complications, visual acuity (VA) measured by best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), anatomical pattern, occurrence of retinal vasculitis (RV) and macular edema over time. Results: Records of 213 patients (341 eyes) were analyzed. No differences in complications were observed (p = 0.465). With regard to VA, a significant difference was detected in median BCVA (p = 0.046), which was not maintained after Bonferroni correction (p = 0.060). RV was significantly more prevalent in NIU-affected patients who tested positive for HLA-B51, irrespective of the systemic diagnosis of BD (p = 0.025). No differences emerged in the occurrence of macular edema (p = 0.99). Conclusions: Patients with NIU testing positive for HLA-B51 exhibit an increased likelihood of RV throughout disease course, irrespective of a systemic diagnosis of BD. The rate of complications as well as VA are comparable between NIU cases unrelated to BD testing positive for HLA-B51 and uveitis associated with BD. Therefore, it is advisable to perform the HLA-B typing in patients with NIU or retinal vasculitis, even in the absence of typical BD features.