Association of HLA type and Mooren’s Ulcer in Chinese in Taiwan
- 1Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, 201, Shih-Pai Road, Section II, and National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, 11217, ROC
- 2Division of Medical Engineering, National Health Research Institute, Taipei, Taiwan 114, ROC
- Correspondence to: Ko-Hua Chen, MD, Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, 201, Shih-Pai Road, Section II, Taipei, Taiwan 11217, ROC; khchen{at}vghtpe.gov.tw
- Accepted 29 November 2002
We read with interest the article by Taylor et al,1 suggesting a possible association between HLA-DR17(3) and/or DQ2 and susceptibility to Mooren’s ulcer on the basis of cases collected globally, though none were Chinese. We have collected HLA data on cases of peripheral ulcerative keratopathy and investigated the genetic relation between Mooren’s ulcer and HLA type in Chinese people.
In total, eight patients with non-infectious peripheral destructive corneal ulcer were treated in our referral clinic. Full systemic and ocular examinations were performed to diagnose Mooren’s ulcer. A laboratory examination to rule out the possible rheumatological and infectious causes, included complete blood count with platelet count, serum complement fixation, circulating immune complexes, antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factor, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C reactive protein, rapid plasma reagent/fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test, antibodies of herpes simplex, herpes zoster, and Toxoplasma, hepatitis B and C tests, liver function tests, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine, fasting blood sugar, urinalysis, chest x ray, sinus x …
