[Genetic factors in anti-D-antibody formation]

The blood group specific artificial immunization for producing anti-D-antibodies in Rh-negative persons ("de-novo immunization") is scarcely successful at present and involves risks of health for test persons. With the justified suggestion that the antibody development is genetically influenced even in man, those serological features were being searched for which might reveal a good anti-D-formation, viz. AB0-blood group, HLA antigens and serum groups Hp, Gm and Km. 134 men de-novo immunized were examined. In those persons forming anti-D with a high titre ("high responders") blood group A will be encountered more frequently. Blood group B will frequently occur in "non-responders". In 78 test persons examined in the HLA system was no correlation between the features of the HLA system and the formation of anti-D. The serum features investigated in 71 test persons did not allow any correlation to anti-D formation to be recognized in the Hp, Gm and Km system. It seems reasonable to continue the investigation for relationships between antibody development and certain hereditary characteristics in the human blood, including HLA-DR gene place.