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Association of HLA-DRB3*0202 and serum IgG antibodies to Chlamydia pneumoniae with essential hypertension in a highly homogeneous population from Majorca (Balearic Islands, Spain)

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 19, pages 615–622 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Separate studies investigating the relationship of essential hypertension (EH) with the HLA system and with Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) infection have given conflicting results. Our aim was to clarify these relationships and determine whether the HLA system and C. pneumoniae infection interact with respect to the risk for EH. An association study (110 essential hypertensives and 107 controls) was conducted in a highly homogeneous population in the Balearic Island of Majorca (Spain). Molecular typing of HLA-B and HLA-DRB and quantification of serum levels of IgG antibodies to C. pneumoniae (sIgGa-Cp) were determined. Student's t-test, χ2-statistics, logistic regression analysis, and general linear model ANOVA were used for statistical analysis. The results showed that EH was related with HLA-DRB3*0202 in the whole study population, and with levels of sIgGa-Cp>63.5 BU/ml in the group of individuals with sIgGa-Cp>30 BU/ml (OR (95% CI) adjusted for obesity, familial history of EH and diabetes=2.06 (1.07–3.97), P=0.03, and =4.60 (1.06–19.90), P=0.04, respectively). The association between EH and sIgGa-Cp was observed in the DRB3*0202(+) individuals, but not in the DRB3*0202(−) subgroup (OR (95% CI)=11.14 (1.92–64.54), P=0.004, and =0.98 (0.22–4.43), P=0.64, respectively (P of the Mantel–Haenszel test for homogeneity of OR=0.06)). In our population, EH was positively associated with HLA-DRB3*0202 and with high levels of sIgGa-Cp. Moreover, a significant interaction of DRB3*0202 on the effect of sIgGa-Cp was observed, as the association of EH with these antibodies depended on the presence of DRB3*0202.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a grant from the ‘Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria’ (FIS 99/0442). We thank the staff at the ‘Centros de Atención Primaria’ in Campos, Esporles, Felanitx, Inca, Manacor, Rafal Nou and Sa Pobla (Majorca, Spain), for their assistance in the preselection of potential participants in the study. We thank Mr Javier Cubero for his helpful comments on the statistical aspects of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fundación Balear Transplant, Palma de Mallorca, Spain

    J M Zabay & C Viader

  2. Servicio de Nefrología, Hospital Universitario Son Dureta, Palma de Mallorca, Spain

    J Marco, G Gómez & M A Munar

  3. Laboratorio Inmunogen SL, Palma de Mallorca, Spain

    J Soler & J M Mulet

  4. Cattedra di Genetica Medica, Universita di Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy

    L Contu, L Cappai & C Carcassi

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  1. J M Zabay
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Correspondence to C Viader.

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Zabay, J., Marco, J., Soler, J. et al. Association of HLA-DRB3*0202 and serum IgG antibodies to Chlamydia pneumoniae with essential hypertension in a highly homogeneous population from Majorca (Balearic Islands, Spain). J Hum Hypertens 19, 615–622 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jhh.1001872

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