[Research of an association between HL-A antigens and systemic scleroderma]

Abstract

49 unrelated subjects suffering from systemic scleroderma were typed for 28 HL-A antigens, without any particular significant association of an antigen with the disease or one of its manifestations being noted. In addition, 13 patients from the same family were genotyped for HL-A. Transmission of the disease through 4 generations does not seem to be linked to a particular haplotype and no pair of sibling HL-A identical patients were seen in the same generation. By contrast, two pairs of sibling patients were HL-A different. Nevertheless, other cases, and in particular familial, will be necessary before an association between the genes of susceptibility to S.S. and a gene in the chromosomal HL-A region may be definitely eliminated.