HLA-B27 prevalence in axial spondyloarthritis patients and in blood donors in a Lebanese population: Results from a nationwide study.

Our study confirmed a low prevalence of HLA-B27 in axSpA patients and BD in this Lebanese population, However, we found a high specificity and positive LR, as well as the same number of axSpA patients fulfilling the clinical arm of the ASAS criteria as in European studies. HLA-B27 is therefore valuable for identification of axSpA in Lebanese patients despite the overall low prevalence in this population. Our results may guide future evaluations the role of HLA-B27 in planning local referral strategies.