What does a positive HLA-B27 antigen test mean?
A positive HLA-B27 test means that the person tested is at increased risk of developing certain autoimmune diseases.
Can you be HLA-B27 positive and not have ankylosing spondylitis?
This marker is found in more than 95 percent of people in the Caucasian population with AS. It is important to note, however, that one does not have to be HLA-B27 positive to have AS. Also, a majority of people with this marker never develop ankylosing spondylitis.
What percentage of the population is HLA-B27 positive?
The HLA-B27 gene marker is found in approximately 3% to 8% of the population, but it is found in more than 90% of patients with ankylosing spondylitis and in 50% to 80% of patients with other SpAs.
Can you donate blood if you have HLA-B27?
You do not need to do anything if you test positive for HLA antibodies. Your HLA antibodies pose absolutely no risk to you. You will remain eligible to donate red blood cells.
Can HLA-B27 be cured?
There’s no cure for ankylosing spondylitis (AS), but treatment is available to help relieve the symptoms. Treatment can also help delay or prevent the process of the spine joining up (fusing) and stiffening.
Is HLA-B27 curable?
There’s no cure for ankylosing spondylitis (AS), but treatment is available to help relieve the symptoms. Treatment can also help delay or prevent the process of the spine joining up (fusing) and stiffening. In most cases treatment involves a combination of: exercise.
Does HLA-B27 cause lupus?
Immunological tests revealed that antinuclear antibody and double stranded DNA antibody were positive. The human leukocyte antigen B27 antigen was also found to be positive. We propose that development of systemic lupus erythematosus in this case may have been due to low grade chronic inflammation.
What happens if you have HLA-B27 antigens?
If you have HLA-B27, you may have an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease is when your immune system attacks your own cells. The most common autoimmune disorders connected with HLA-B27 antigens are: Your HLA antigens are unique to you. They are determined by your genes. Because of that, this blood test is also useful as a paternity test.
How many people in the US have HLA-B27?
The presence or absence of each antigen creates a distinctive HLA combination for each person. HLA-B27 is found in about 6% of the U.S. population.
How is HLA-B27 linked to inflammatory bowel disease?
HLA-B27 has also been linked with inflammatory bowel disease and a range of other chronic conditions. Ankylosing spondylitis and reactive arthritis are both chronic, progressive conditions that occur more frequently in men than women.
Can you get ankylosing spondylitis with HLA-B27?
While HLA-B27 has not been established as a cause of any of these disorders, there is a higher prevalence of the antigen in those affected. For example, even though only 6% of the population has HLA-B27, 80-90% of people with ankylosing spondylitis are positive for HLA-B27. How is it used?