Association of HLA and autoantibody in transfused sickle cell disease patients

This study evaluates autoantibody production in sickle cell disease patients and determines whether genes in the major histocompatibility complex are associated with autoantibody responses. Rheumatoid factor was significantly increased for both male and female patients and was less prevalent in highly transfused patients. Significant increases were also detected in the incidences of antinuclear antibody for females and antismooth muscle antibody for males. Low incidence of antinuclear antibody was significantly associated with HLA-DR3. Significant associations were also found between the incidence of antinuclear antibody and both HLA-A28 and B15.