Back to Page
Authors: Gokhan Karacaoglan, Umit Luleyap, Aysegul Yolga Tahiroglu, Percin Pazarci, Akgun Yaman, Salih Cetiner, Yasar Sertdemir, Doga Luleyap
Keywords: PANDAS, Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA), OCD, GABHS, neuropsychiatric disorders
Abstract: Background/Aims: Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections (PANDAS) is a hypothesis claiming that obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in children is caused by an autoimmune reaction triggered by group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal (GABHS) infections. Autoimmune reaction to GABHS infections is thought to produce antibodies that interfere with basal ganglia function and to cause OCD. Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) gene region, which encodes tissue antigens for the immune system to distinguish between self-antigens and foreign antigens, is an important element of the autoimmune response. In this study, an examination of the relationship between PANDAS and HLA alleles is aimed. Methods: HLA alleles of 41 children patients, who are diagnosed with rapid onset of OCD, and 88 healthy children are analyzed by using PCR. Results are evaluated by using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: It is determined that the DRB8, DRB5.2, and DQ5 alleles are increasing risk of disease while A1, B18 and B35 alleles are decreasing the risk of disease. Conclusions: Findings of this study will help researchers to examine related genes in PANDAS and the effects of gene products on the development of the disease. Presentation of exogenic antigens to T-helper cells by HLA class II loci is determined in different autoimmune diseases. The similarity of these findings with PANDAS etiology and risk increasing alleles found in this study being HLA class II is remarkable.