[HLA genotyping: indications and limits]

Disputed paternity presumption in Burkina Faso: determination of the biological fathers of children using ABO-rhesus/hemoglobin electrophoresis and STR assays

BACKGROUND

In resource-limited countries, ABO, HLA, MNS, Kells, and hemoglobin electrophoresis are classic tests for the resolution of paternity disputes due to their affordable cost. The limitations of these tests in cases of disputed paternity require the use of Short Tandem Repeats (STR) for their certification. This study aimed to determine the biological fathers of children using ABO-rhesus/hemoglobin electrophoresis and STR assays in Burkina Faso, West Africa.

RESULTS

Of the fourteen trios studied, the ABO-rhesus/hemoglobin electrophoresis analysis revealed ten probable inclusion cases, three exclusion cases, and one undetermined paternity. DNA STR analysis found five inclusions of paternity out of the ten probable inclusions with ABO-rhesus/hemoglobin electrophoresis assay versus nine exclusions of paternity.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that the implementation of the analysis of short tandem repeat is required to resolve increasing disputed filiation cases in Burkina Faso.

[HLA-B*5701 and abacavir hypersensitivity reaction]

A potentially life-threatening hypersensitive reaction occurs in association with initiation of HIV nucleoside analogue abacavir therapy in 4 to 8% of patients. Preliminary studies appear to confirm the role of the immune system in abacavir hypersensitivity. The reaction is possibly the result of presentation of drug peptides onto HLA, that may induce a pathogenic T-cell response. Hypersensitivity reaction to abacavir is strongly associated with the presence of the HLA-B*5701 allele and prospective HLA-B*5701 genetic screening has now been instituted in clinical practice to reduce the risk of hypersensitivity reaction.