title: Spina bifida and anencephaly. Geographic correlation with the HLA system.
abstract: The geographical correlation between the incidence of spina bifida and anencephaly and the HLA and ABO antigen frequencies are studied. There is a positive correlation between these malformations and A1 and B8, and a negative correlation with B5 and Bw35. The role of the HLA system itself, or of a human T-like locus, is discussed. This study provides evidence of a possible genetic background of susceptibility to these malformations.
mesh_terms: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D000757:Anencephaly / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D001315:Australia; D002170:Canada; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D013019:South Africa; D016136:Spina Bifida Occulta / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D006680:HLA Antigens