Abstract: Objective To investigate the possible association of HLA-DQ alleles with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) caused by Chlamydia trachomatis in Han nationality in Northern China. Methods Thirty five Han Chinese patients with PID caused by Chlamydia trachomatis and 98 unrelated healthy individuals from the same area were genotyped for HLA-DQ gene alleles by the PCR-sequence specific oligonucleotide (SSO) method. Results Compared with the healthy controls, the frequencies of HLA-DQA1*0501 and HLA-DQB1*0301 allele were significantly increased and also associated with the antibody response to Chlamydia trachomatis heat-shock protein 60 (CHSP60). Conclusions These results may provide clues to reveal the susceptibility gene of chlamydial pelvic inflammatory disease in China and the immunogenetic mechanisms of the disease.

Key words: Adnexitis, Chlamydia infections, HLA-DQ antigens