Immunogenetic markers in patients with Graves' disease

110 carefully characterized Caucasoid patients with Graves' disease were tested for HLA class I and class II antigens. Compared with Caucasian controls (n = 193), the frequencies of HLA B8, Cw7 and DR3 were significantly increased (pc less than 0.05). In the subgroups with and without exophthalmos, HLA A3 exhibited a negative but insignificant association with the eye involvement, while A19 and Cw2 showed positive, however even weaker correlations with eye disease. HLA DR5 was associated with relapsing thyrotoxicosis, whereas HLA DR7 and B12 were negatively correlated with relapse. These results confirm the positive correlation of HLA B8 and DR3 with Graves' disease and reveal a not yet observed association with Cw7. Reported correlations of antigen frequencies with eye disease and relapsing thyrotoxicosis could not be confirmed. Other previously unknown, however subtle differences in disease subgroups were observed.