[The clinical importance of tissue antigens (HL-A) in man (author's transl)]

The HL-A system is part of the main histocompatibility complex of man which is located on chromosome A6. The clinical importance of this antigen system lies in its application in the immunological choice of donor for transplantations, it being clear that still other important transplantation systems must be located on chromosome 6. The fact that in many diseases certain HL-A antigens occur more frequently has acquired a certain diagnostic significance in ankylosing spondylitis, iritis and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. The associations with HL-A observed can best be explained by the assumption HL-A-coupled defective immunoresponse genes which are partly responsible for sensitivity to disease.