HLA class I and class II polymorphisms and anti-nuclear antibodies in hyperprolactinaemic Iraqi females with primary infertility

Abstract EN

Background : the study was conducted to investigate the association between hyperprolactinaemia and markers of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system in a sample of Iraqi infertile females, together with the profile anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA).

Objectives : one hundred and seventy five female patients (age range : 20 -40 years) were recruited in this study.

They were attending the Institute for Embryo Research and Infertility.

Treatment (Al-Nahrain University) during the period January 2005 - September 2006.

Results : after clinical and laboratry evaluations, it was found that 100 patients were hyperprolactinaemic, whereas the other 75 patients were euprolactinaemic, therefore, they were considered as a control group.

Based on serum level of prolactin (22-29, 30-39 and ≥ 40 Ng / ml), the total hyperprolactinaemic patients were divided into three groups; I (35 patients), II (40 patients) and III (25 patients), respectively.

The HLA antigens showed significant variations between patients (total and groups) and controls.

In total patients, B8 (25.0 vs 9.3 %), DR3 (48.0 vs.

17.3 %) and DR4 (39.0 vs.

13.3 %) showed significant increased frequencies, while B35 showed a significant decreased frequency (7.0 vs.

24 %).

The latter decrease was also observed (5.7 vs.

24.0 %) in group I of patients, which also showed a significant increased frequency of DR3 (54.3 vs.

17.3 %).

In groups II and III of patients, only DR3 (45.0 and 56.0, respectively vs.

17.3 %) and DR4 (37.5 and 56.0, respectively vs.

13.3 %) showed significant increased frequencies.

Autoantibody evaluation by ANA test revealed that 22 % of the total patients was positive, while all control subjects were negative, and such positivity paralleled the increased level of serum prolactin.