Association of IgA deficiency with HLA A28 and B14

HLA typing was performed in two groups of individuals with low serum IgA concentrations. These consisted of 44 individuals identified from a blood donor clinic and 37 individuals attending an Immunology clinic with disorders associated with IgA deficiency. Both groups showed an increase in the frequency of HLA B14 (P < 0.0001), HLA-A28 (P= 0.0007) and the combinations HLA-A1, B14 and HLA-A28, B14. The previously reported increase in HLA-A1, B8 was not apparent in either group. These data suggest that there is a gene within the human major histocompatibility complex which is relevant in IgA deficiency