EVALUATION OF ULCERATIVE COLITIS AND HLA, PARTICULARLY CLASS II ANTIGEN

HLA determined in 170 patients with ulcerative colitis were compared with those in 310 controls. HLA with significantly higher levels in those with ulcerative colitis included A24, BW52, DR2 and DQW1 (corrected p<0.05). On the other hand, HLA with lower levels in these patients were DR1, DRW53 and DQW3 (corrected p<0.05). A24, BW52, DR2 and DQW1, which appeared with a high frequency in cases of ulcerative colitis, exhibit a strong linkage disequilibrium among Japanese individuals, and all patients with ulcerative colitis from two family lines in which familial incidence was proved were found to have this haplotype.