Lack of association between Hashimoto's thyroiditis and SD-locus HLA antigens

All at present serological detectable HLA antigens and humoral antithyroid immunity have been studied in 26 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and 450 controls. No statistical significant difference in frequencies of the 36 HLA antigens tested could be found. These findings suggest that serological defined (SD) genes of the histocompatibility complex are not the major factors involved in the predisposition to Hashimoto's thyroiditis. By analysing prevalence of thyroid antibodies in HLA-B8 positive and HLA-B8 negative groups of Hashimoto's thyroiditis patients an association between B8 and thyroglobulin and thyroid microsomal antibody formation was found. Although frequency of HLA-B8 was not increased in the patients, B8 positivity may reflect an increased susceptibility for humoral antithyroid immunity.