HLA and Disease Associations

Abstract

The major histocompatability complex (MHC) in man is situated on chromosome 6 and codes for the HLA antigens, different complement components, some enzymes, and other still unknown factors. A large number of diseases have been found to be associated with HLA factors. Most of these diseases are associated with immunological abnormalities, and span from clear-cut immunological disorders (gluten hypersensitivity, myasthenia gravis, systemic lupus erythematosus) via diseases suspect of autoimmune pathogenesis (insulin-dependent diabetes, thyrotoxicosis, rheumatoid arthritis, pernicious anemia) to conditions of possible immunological etiology (multiple sclerosis and psoriasis vulgaris), but include also diseases without immunological abnormalities (idiopathic hemochromatosis and congenital adrenal hyperplasia).