title: HLA antigens in Italian multiple sclerosis patients.
abstract: We analyzed HLA-A, -C, -B, -DR and -DQ specificities in 104 Italian multiple sclerosis patients and in 905 healthy controls. The frequencies of HLA-A23, A26, Cw4, DR3 and, especially DR5 antigens were significantly higher in multiple sclerosis patients than in controls. Patients with progressive course were characterized by high frequencies of B7, B8 and DR3 antigens: Cw1 and DRw11 shows a negative correlation with the extent of intrathecal IgG production. These data confirm that the HLA system may influence the clinical expression and the immune responses to the disease.
authors.affiliation: Divisione Neurologica e Laboratorio Analisi dell'Istituto Nazionale Neurologico C. Besta, Milano.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: La Mantia
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Illeni
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Milanese
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salmaggi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eoli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pellegris
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nespolo
mesh_terms: D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D015234:HLA-A Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D015235:HLA-B Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D015236:HLA-C Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007558:Italy; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology*; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D015234:HLA-A Antigens; D015235:HLA-B Antigens; D015236:HLA-C Antigens; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G