HLA Class II genes associated with REM sleep behavior disorder

Abstract
Twenty‐five white men with rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder, but without narcolepsy, under‐went HLA class II antigen typing; 84% (N = 21) were DQw1 (DQB1*05,06) positive (28% [N = 7] were DR2 positive); DQB1*0501 (N = 9) and DQB1*0602 (N = 7) were the most common phenotypes. The 84% DQwl rate in men with REM sleep behavior disorder was significantly greater (p = 0.015) than the 56% DQwl rate found in a local white comparison group (N = 66), and was greater than the 39 to 66% DQw1 rates published for 12 white groups (N = 40–418/group). Thus, another disorder of REM sleep dysregulation (besides narcolepsy) appears to be strongly associated with specific HLA class I1 genes.