Association of HLA-A9 and HLA-B5 with Buerger's disease

Eighteen patients who satisfied stringent criteria for the diagnosis of Buerger's disease, healthy controls, and patients with atherosclerosis were tested for various HLA antigens. The incidence of HLA-A9 and HLA-B5 was significantly greater among those with Buerger's disease. This finding supports the concept that Buerger's disease is a distinct clinicopathological condition.