Geographical variations in HLA-B27 prevalence and its relationship with rheumatological disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis tries to examines the geographic and methodological variation in HLA-B27 prevalence and its association with rheumatological disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis or Ankylosing Spondylitis in different countries using data from seven studies in screening between 1977 and 2022, including cross-sectional, This study, as well as a prospective cohort study, reveals considerable heterogeneity in HLA-B27 prevalence Japan (78 %) found a high prevalence, which was significantly linked with ankylosing spondylitis. In contrast, lower prevalence was found in Colombia (4.5%) and France (9.6% of patients with RA), suggesting a clinically variable importance (based on our selected article). These findings highlight the influence of geographic and ethnic factors on the role of HLA-B27 in rheumatoid arthritis and highlight the need for regionally specific screening and management strategies. Future research should investigate the interactions between HLA-B27 and other genetic and environmental factors to refine diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. It is important to note that some studies were published earlier but became online available recently in years and decade.