title: Association of genes within the major histocompatibility complex with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
abstract: The objective was to determine whether a relationship exists among the complement C4B gene, a DR region gene and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Thirty-one subjects with ADHD, their mothers, all but 5 of their fathers, and 90 normal subjects living in northern Utah were studied. DR and C4B typing were performed by serologic HLA typing techniques and the DNA methods PCR-RFLP. The alleles of 2 genes, the null allele of the C4B gene and the beta 1 allele of the DR gene, encode for products involved in immune function and regulation. Each of these alleles was found to be significantly associated with ADHD. Moreover, approximately 55% of the ADHD subjects carried both of these alleles on 1 of their chromosomes, compared to only 8% of normal controls. Genes related to the immune system may be associated with development of the symptoms of ADHD.
authors.affiliation: Center for Persons with Disabilities, Utah State University, Logan 84322 USA.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Odell
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Burger
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maciulis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002896:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 6 / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors