Clinical Findings of Ankylosing Spondylitis With and Without Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-B27 and HLA-B51.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and Behçet's disease are known to be associated with the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 and HLA-B51 genes, respectively. However, many of their clinical findings-including articular and extra-articular symptoms-are similar, making diagnosis a challenge in the early stage of the disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in clinical findings of AS patients with and without the HLA-B27 gene. We performed a retrospective chart review of 151 AS patients. The following clinical findings were evaluated: oral ulcer, genital ulcer, skin manifestation, uveitis, peripheral arthritis; and gastrointestinal, cardiac and pulmonary involvement. Patients were divided into 4 groups based on absence or presence of the HLA-B27 and HLA-B51 genes. The number of patients with each clinical finding was subsequently examined in each group. The incidence of uveitis was significantly higher in the HLA-B27-positive group ( HLA-B27 was associated with the development of uveitis but not with other clinical findings or disease activity in AS patients. HLA-B51 was not associated with the clinical findings or disease activity of AS.