Determination of IL- 10 gene polymorphism and cytokine level measurement in development of inhibitors among severe haemophilia A patients in Malaysia

Haemophilia A is a hereditary X-chromosomal recessive disorder which is characterised by a deficiency of functional factor VIII (FVIII) coagulant activity. Haemophilia can also be classified as severe, moderate or mild based on coagulation factor levels. Patients with severe haemophilia A (FVIII level of < 1%) possess a high risk of spontaneous bleeding. The FVIII concentrates infusion is the treatment of choice for haemophilia A sufferers. However, one of the most unwanted complications is the formation of neutralising antibodies known as inhibitors that will inhibit the clotting activity against the administered factor concentrates in some patients. Patients who develop FVIII inhibitor shows an increase in the frequency of bleeding episodes, which cannot be adequately controlled by FVIII concentrates. They are also at increased risk of morbidity and mortality. There is several mechanisms involved in the formation of inhibitor, i.e. family history, ethnicity, FVIII gene mutations, major histocompatibility complex genotype and polymorphisms of immune-response genes. This study aims to characterise the polymorphism of -592C/A, - 819C/T and -1082G/A in the promoter region of interleukin- l0 (lL-10) and relate them with IL-10 plasma levels. The patients’ whole blood samples and some stored DNA were collected from the National Blood Centre, Kuala Lumpur. The whole blood samples were further processed to obtain the DNA and their serum subjected for IL-10 cytokines level by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A total of 64 severe haemophilia A respondents (32 with inhibitors (50%) and 32 without inhibitors (50%)) were involved in this study. Among these respondents, half of the patients (50%) were with high titre inhibitor (≥ 5 BU) and another half (50 %) were low titre inhibitors (