HLA antigens and Bf allotypes in SLE: evidence for the association being with specific haplotypes

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Abstract
The clinical features and HLA types of 67 unrelated patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were analyzed. An increase in frequencies of A1, B8 and DR3 was noted. These antigens are in close linkage disequilibrium, and susceptibility to SLE apparently is associated with the presence of all 3 antigens, implicating the specific haplotype which bears these antigens. An increase in frequency of DR2, but not A3 or B7, was demonstrated. These latter 2 antigens are in linkage disequilibrium with DR2. Of the 54 Caucasoid SLE group, 73.3% were either B8 and/or DR2. This is in comparison with 37.5% in the controls and the difference is significant (P < 0.001). There was no association apparent between extent of disease, particular organ involvement and level of circulating antibodies to double stranded DNA with any HLA region product.