[Study of HLA antigens A and B and their cross reactions in B27-negative ankylosing spondylarthritis].

In an attempt to find common immunogenetic features in B27+ and B27- ankylosing spondylitis patients, the B7 cross reactant antigens (BW22, B27, B40, B12, B13) were systematically tested by a lymphocytotoxicity method in 43 patients suffering from ankylosing spondylitis according to the Rome criteria. These included 25 caucasian patients (20 B27+, 5 B27-), 15 north african patients (11 B27+, 4 B27-) and 3 west indian mulattos (all B27-). The frequency of the B7 cross reactant antigens, when compared to controls, was not increased in the B27- patients as a whole, nor in any of the 3 populations studied. Our negative results are in agreement with those of similar published studies in homogeneous populations. They do not support the hypothesis of a direct involvement of HLA B antigens as cofactors favouring ankylosing spondylitis.