DISTRIBUTION OF HLA ANTIGENS IN IDIOPATHIC PULMONARY FIBROSIS

Abstract

Divergent observations suggest that genetic factors contribute to the susceptibility to or clinical course of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis [IPF]. To determine whether there is an association between the major histocompatibility (HLA) system and IPF, the distribution of 35 antigens of HLA loci A and B was determined among 33 white patients with IPF and 329 healthy white control subjects. Although certain antigens tended to be more prevalent among patients with IPF compared with control subjects, there were no significant differences in the phenotype frequencies of the HLA-A and HLA-B antigens between these 2 groups. Thus, although subtle associations may exist between the HLA loci and IPF, antigens of the HLA-A and HLA-B loci are probably not linked with major risk factors in this disease.