LACK OF ASSOCIATION OF THE IMMUNE RESPONSE TO RAGWEED ANTIGEN E, Ra 3 AND Ra5 WITH THE HLA SYSTEM

SUMMARY One hundred and sixty-five individuals with ragweed rhinitis and asthma were studied. The associations between the HLA system and: Ra3 skin-test response, Ra3 RAST, Ra3/antigen E skin-test reactivity ratio, Ra5 skin-test response, Ra5 RAST, Ra5/antigen E skin-test reactivity ratio, serum IgE levels, antigen E skin-test response, and antigen E RAST were studied. In addition, the influence of the serum IgE levels of these immune parameters were evaluated. No highly significant associations were noted.