HL-A Antigens and the Response to Prophylactic Lithium

Abstract
82 consecutive patients checked at the out-patient clinic of the Psychiatric Department of the Umeå University were typed for HL-A antigens. The patients belonged to the diagnostic subgroups: bipolar (manic-depressive) psychosis (n = 33), unipolar recurrent depressive psychosis (n = 29) and cycloid psychosis (n = 20) and all had been on lithium treatment for at least 6 months. By comparing the group of those who did not relapse on lithium therapy (n = 48) with the group of those who did relapse (n = 34) there was a significantly higher frequency of the HL-A A3 antigens among those who did relapse, and none of those who did not relapse were found to have the HL-A B18 antigens. The results suggest a possible interference between HL-A antigens and response to lithium treatment. However, a large number of antigens were tested and a small number of patients.

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