HLA-A, B, C and HLA-DR antigens in extrinsic allergic alveolitis (budgerigar fancier's lung disease)

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Abstract
Patients (23) with extrinsic allergic alveolitis due to an allergy to inhaled budgerigar serum protein (budgerigar fancier''s lung disease) were typed for HLA-A, B, C and HLA-DR antigens. Antigen frequencies were compared with those found in 154 healthy control subjects. No statistically significant variation in the frequency of any HLA antigen was detected. Exclusion of 2 patients who had concurrent celiac disease and subdivision of the population into those with acute and chronic disease failed to reveal any significant association with an HLA specificity. A non-significant increase in B8-DR3 amongst the patients with acute disease was noted. Possible reasons for the apparent HLA associations previously reported for extrinsic allergic alveolitis are discussed.