[Immunogenetic findings in Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis and gluten sensitive enteropathy]

Immunogenetics explain the influence of genetic dispositions and regulation mechanisms on the defence mechanisms of organisms. In this paper the interrelationship between immunogenetic findings and Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and glutensensitive enteropathy are presented. The association with HLA-antigens and the complement factors Bf and C 4 are described. An increased association of HLA-antigens with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis have not been observed, with one exception, the association between HLA-Bw 35 (53%) and ulcerative colitis in a particular ethnic group in Israel. In contrast, there is a distinct association between the complement allotype Bf-F and Crohn's disease (68%) and ulcerative colitis (50%), compared with controls (29%). Glutensensitive enteropathy shows no increased occurrence of complement factors however there is an association with HLA-B8 (83%) DR 3 (94%) and DR 7 (61%). The phenotype description of the genes of the main histocompatibility complexes allows, amongst others, a conclusion concerning the pathogenesis and diagnosis of certain diseases. A new approach to these diseases has been introduced.