Association of HLA DQB1 0602 in sarcoidosis patients with small fiber neuropathy.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Sarcoidosis has been reported to be associated with the HLA genes, in particular DQB1.

METHODS: High resolution DQB 1 of 103 sarcoidosis patients was obtained by sequence-based typing; low resolution HLA-A/B/DRB 1 typing was performed by serological and molecular methods. Small fiber neuropathy (SFN) was established by thermal threshold testing.

RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients suffered from SFN (SFN+), in 36 patients SFN was absent (SFN-). Comparing HLA DQB 1 typings of SFN+ patients, SFN- patients and control individuals revealed a significant increase of the allele DQB 1 0602 in SFN+ patients compared to controls.

CONCLUSION: This association might be correlated with a severe course of the disease.