Association and linkage between alcoholism and eleven serological markers

Sera from alcoholics and their nonalcoholic first-degree relatives were analyzed for 11 serological markers. A lower prevalence of the S antigen in the nonalcoholic relatives and linkage in repulsion between the D gene of the Rh system and alcoholism were found. All the alcoholics and the relatives had an SS phenotype, when analyzed for complement C3, compared with a prevalence rate of about 50% in other studies. The first two associations involve blood groups, the latter a serum protein.