The diagnostic and prognostic value of HLA B 35 antigen in viral subacute thyroiditis

HLA B 35 antigen was assessed in 19 patients with viral subacute thyroiditis. The antigen was present in 68.43% of patients (no = 13). The relative risk (vs 500 health blood donors) is very high (12.27), with X2 = 33.4 and p less than 0.001. Despite the high relative risk, the presence/absence of HLA B 35 antigen showed no correlations with the main clinical features in our patients; no correlations can be made for: erythrocyte sedimentation rate, radioiodine uptake, thyromegaly, hyperthyroidism and evolution.