HLA determinants in idiopathic hemochromatosis.

HLA—A and B antigens were defined in 154 unrelated idiopathic hemochromatosis patients. The study confirmed the highly significant positive association with HLA antigens A3 (corrected P < 10−10) and B14 (corrected P < 10−9). HLA—DR typing showed increased frequency of the specificity DRw6, which was frequently associated with the phenotype A3, B14 and antigen B14, suggesting linkage disequilibrium. This was borne out by PLT data.