Effect of HLA type on age at onset in schizophrenic disorders

In a sample of 229 patients affected by schizophrenic disorders according to DSM-III, the authors tested the effect of the HLA type, sex and severity of the disease with respect to the distribution of age at onset. All the three factors reached, independently, a statistically significant value: that is, HLA A1 positive males affected by the severe form of the illness show the earliest breakdown of the disease. This finding partially confirms previous results, and particularly the importance of the HLA influence is discussed.