HLA-DR and disease associations

Recent data from the literature on the association of HLA-DR antigens with various diseases are presented. These data indicate that many diseases show stronger associations with these antigens than with other HLA-locus antigens. Included in this group are multiple sclerosis (DR2), diabetes (DR3), and pemphigus vulgaris (DR4). In earlier studies other diseases - rheumatoid arthritis and Goodpasture's syndrome, which were not found to be associated with HLA-A, -B, and -C antigens - show associations with DR4 and DR2, respectively. If population association is due to linkage disequilibrium, then the DR locus must be closer to the hypothesized disease susceptibility genes than are other HLA loci. Examination of the family data with appropriate methods of segregation and linkage analysis could clarify the genetic bases of some of these disorders.