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“B27 Disease” Is a New Autoimmune Disease That Affects Millions of People
Author(s) -
EBRINGER ALAN,
RASHID TAHA
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1196/annals.1423.013
Subject(s) - molecular mimicry , ankylosing spondylitis , hla b27 , disease , medicine , immunology , autoimmunity , antibody , autoimmune disease , human leukocyte antigen , antigen
: “B27 disease” is a new autoimmune disease that afflicts millions of people throughout the world. “B27 disease” occurs in individuals who have ankylosing spondylitis (AS) or preankylosing spondylitis and/or uveitis and are also positive for HLA‐B27. Molecular mimicry between the bowel microbe Klebsiella and the HLA‐B27 molecule, as well as the spinal collagens types I, III, and IV, indicates a pathological mechanism involving autoimmunity. Antibodies to Klebsiella microbes have been reported in AS patients from 18 different countries. Sera from patients with AS show complement‐dependent cytopathic activity against sheep red cells coated with HLA‐B27 peptide antigens. Diagnosis of B27 disease can lead to early treatment, involving low‐starch diet, sulfasalazine, and immunosuppressive and biological agents so as to prevent the irreversible bony changes of established classical AS. The concept of B27 disease provides a new approach to the study and treatment of these disorders and needs to be evaluated in prospective studies by the world rheumatological community.