[Association of type I diabetes mellitus with HLA alleles]

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is a chronic autoimmune disease characterised by a loss of tolerance towards own antigene structures beta-pancreatic cells. The destruction of cells subsequently leads to the loss of insulin production. There are more factors which trigger the autoimmune response in susceptible individuals, however, they are only partially known so far. One of the predisposing factors is the genotype, while the main role is ascribed to genes of the main histocompatible complex (HLA). Out of extensive genetic and epidemiological studies, the Caucasoid population is known to have a significant association of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus with the increased frequencies of haplotypes HLA-DRB1*04-DQA1*0301-DQB1*0302 and DRB1*0301-DQA1*0501-DQB1*0201.