title: Histocompatibility antigens in primary biliary cirrhosis.
abstract: Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is characterized by marked perturbation of the immune system. In addition, there are familial associations which suggest genetic background to the disease. We have studied HLA-A, B, and D loci in 15 Japanese women with PBC, and compared them to controls. Although HLA-A and B loci in PBC patients showed similar prevalence to the control population, HLA-DHO was significantly more common, occurring in 69% of patients with PBC and 21% of controls. This suggests a genetic predisposition to PBC, and the HLA-DHO locus association may reflect a genetic abnormality of the immune responses.
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D015235:HLA-B Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D015235:HLA-B Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II