Immunoglobulin IgG Fc-receptor polymorphisms and HLA class II molecules in Guillain-Barre syndrome

Objective - To analyze host genetic factors immunoglobulin G Fc receptors (Fc gamma Rs) and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II in GBS patients. Methods - Fc gamma RIIA, IIIA and IIIB polymorphisms were studied in 80 each GBS patients and healthy controls by allele specific PCR. HLA class II DR beta 1 and DQ beta 1 typing was performed at the two-digit level by PCR in randomly selected 54 GBS patients and 202 controls. Results - Fc gamma RIIA-H/H (56% vs 9%; P < 0.0001) and Fc gamma RIIIA-V/V (40% vs 13%; P < 0.0001) genotypes, H131 allele frequencies (0.73 vs 0.26, P < 0.0001) and HLA DQ beta 1*060x (OR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.26-3.04; P < 0.01) were significantly increased in GBS than controls. DR beta 1*0701 alone (OR, 10; 95% CI, 45.90-2.25; P < 0.001) and together with Fc gamma RIIA-H/H (OR, 11.03; 95% CI, 2.63-46.20; P < 0.001) was significantly associated with GBS patients having microbiological evidence of recent infection. Conclusions - The study indicates that homozygous Fc gamma RIIA and Fc gamma RIIIA genotypes and Fc gamma RIIA H131 allele are associated with GBS. HLA class II molecule DR beta 1*0701 is identified as novel genetic risk factor for development of GBS in patients with preceding infection.