title: Multiple sclerosis in the Orkney and Shetland Islands. III: Histocompatibility determinants.
abstract: Histocompatibility testing was performed in 48 multiple sclerosis patients and two carefully matched control groups in Orkney Islands, an area of high multiple sclerosis prevalence. The frequency of HLA-A3, HLA-B7, and DW2 was comparable in patients and controls. However, HLA-B7 was significantly more common in female patients compared with male patients. A B-cell alloantigen (B-cell 4) was also as frequent in patients as among controls. Strong linkage between HLA-B7, DW2 and B-cell 4 occurred in controls, but not patients; the linkage was particularly striking in female controls. These data are not consistent with theories that relate certain of the histocompatibility antigens to the aetiology of multiple sclerosis.
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007519:Isoantigens / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007519:Isoantigens