HLA-DR specificities among Japanese with several autoimmune diseases

HLA-A, -B, -C, and -DR antigens were determined in order to study the association of HLA in Japanese patients with several autoimmune diseases, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and Hodgkin's disease. The frequency of HLA-DR4 was significantly increased in the patients with rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile-onset insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. In this study, no significant associations with A, B, or C specificities were observed except BW22 in IDDM. In contrast, the negative association with HLA-DR2 was observed in Hashimoto's thyroiditis, pemphigus vulgaris and hypertrophic non-obstructive cardiomyopathy.